Lauchhammer

An intriguing post-GDR thriller with a good, though depressing, atmosphere. After a girl is murdered the plot slowly develops towards a rather unexpected end. The former GDR political culture is nicely intertwined with the current atmosphere in the former Eastern Germany and with the former coal industry there. An intelligent crime story that at times may get you a little lost, but always timely returns on to the right track. If you're into crime mystery, intrigue within a depressing atmosphere that seems to hold no hope for anyone, then this is definitely for you. Do not expect a fast paced thriller. The story needs six episodes to unfold. Photography, dialogues, acting and scenario are decent, not special, but good enough. The only aspects that seems out of place are some of the theme songs. O right, the scenes filmed in driving cars are technically very poor. Not every series can have 10 stars.

As a fan of what, now, I suppose must be old-school Belgian noir, I rejoined Netflix. That streaming channel's violence quotient renders almost everything--sometimes including documentaries--unwatchable for me. But since I love me some Belgian noir, I rejoined.

This is going to be a long review. Please skip if you're not into long reviews.

The gold-standard for Belgian Noir is 2017's "The Break" or (en francais) "Le Treve." It is so good, I have sometimes rejoined Netflix specifically to rewatch only it. I watch it in the original French. But I sometimes will listen to an English-audio version, as I did here with Lauchhammer. I wonder if I'm the only one in Netflix-land to wonder if the same male English dubber is used in absolutely every French/German production? I'm not whistling Dixie, and so, if you watch this in English, take my word that the material is much less theatrical and high-strung in the original.

I keep saying, "French." I assume this production was made in the Wallonia region. When I hit "Play," the language went directly to French with English subtitles, not German.

The noir genre requires--*requires*--esthetically appealing atmosphere. "The Break" had enough atmosphere for fifteen seasons. Not "Lauchhammer." Swamps and moors (moors? In Wallonie?) don't cut it. The noir genre also requires pacing that introduces additional suspects at a slow pace. Holy crow! We're introduced to everyone and his or her mother-in-law as a potential killer here.

"The Break's" use of homeless squatters with dreadlocks was kept to a minimum in both that series' seasons. Homeless squatters are like mustard--perhaps tasty if used sparingly, depressing as all hell when made the focus, or seeming focus, of the plot.

Lastly, "The Break" *entertained.* That's a horrible word to use about the murders of two extremely endearing main characters (Seasons 1 and 2). However, the victim here seems merely a sullen Millennial. Anyone who recalls the heartbreaking Driss Assani, the African immigrant from Season 1, will recall that Driss was anything but a sullen Millennial.

The pile-on of characters, potential motives, possible baddies in just one episode proved too much for me. I intended to follow the series, because Juri was clearly the "Kevin" ("The Break") character here. The thing is that every blessed character in "The Break" was fascinating in his or her mixture of good and evil.

If the writers/producers of Lauchhammer were thinking to appeal to die-hard fans of "La Treve," oh, dear, as of Episode 1, you have gotten so many things wrong--including the politically correct, sparring female-male detective team. Annalena is SO not the beloved "Marjo" ("The Break").

Maybe I'll continue with it, maybe I won't. I do not need Sullen Millennial Cinema. Maybe that's what Netflix should rename itself: Sullen Millennial Cinema... in the Multiverse!

This was a good watch on a rainy afternoon. Kept my attention, it was engaging, it was interesting. I felt that the first three episodes were really set up to draw the audience in. Lots of interesting (and different) ideas and characters. Lots of backstory in flashbacks on the lead man Maik, and lots of questions - even intrigue - was Maik a killer?? And great family drama with an interesting father and brother.

The side story with the dead girls little brother held my interest as well. Also the ex-wife and her boyfriend storyline could have been drawn out some more, it was interesting. So for all the lead-up to what should have been a good climax, and enough drama from the past to pack a powerful ending, the last two episodes just felt a little lack-luster. And the abduction in the last few minutes seems a little thrown in. Probably a different person should have been abducted, seemed unbelievable and didn't really fit with the story line. Unnecessary. So for this reason I give it six stars. And the last thing that I thought was a little unnecessary, Was the attire of the leading lady. Um, Aren't you a police officer? Where is your uniform, lady? When everyone else is wearing jackets and long sleeves, a tank top seemed ridiculous. In... Every... Scene. Like I said, this was a rainy days binge watch for me, and I enjoyed it.

Very hard to get into this one. As a true crime author, I usually love true crime series, especially crimes set in Europe. It was disjointed and not really focused on the murder or the investigation. There were some characters who didn't seem to fit the narrative. Some of the others had too much going on that didn't seem to make any sense with respect to the crime. I had a hard time following the plot line.

I am searching to see if there are any other documentaries about this crime to compare it to, but if not, I would not recommend this one if you are a true crime junkie. You'll know after the first episode of you should keep watching.

A great story BUT one has to pay attention.

I left the show in German and read the subtitles in English.

The only character that I had a problem with was Annalena the cop who in charge of the murder investigation. When will script writers learn how to write for a successful, accomplished women without her coming across as less than/a bit@#. The detective is well versed in policy and procedures BUT does not get along with others. She is not a team player. At times she comes across as a bully and can come across as bias in her thought process. Towards the end of the 6th episode this was addressed. All in all she has little compassion and is all about results. And what's with asking point blank a subordinate for sex and stating that no feelings will be involved.

The other lead detective Maik is going back to his home town to conduct the murder investigation and with it comes all his baggage that he has put behind him.

I loved the filming of the series. The music. The flashbacks.

If you love a good mystery, want something non formulaic, this a good choice.