Rufus Sewell stars as Aurelio Zen, a Venetian detective who possesses “an unfortunate reputation for honesty“. As you can imagine, this presents a challenge in the somewhat morally complicated world of the Italian police. A doubly hard existence especially when you are in Rome and are Venetian. Based on author Michael Dibdin’s international best-selling Italian detective series, Zen, the series premieres this Sunday as part of PBS’ Masterpiece series and will continue over the next three weeks.

After screening the first two, Vendetta and Cabal, getting answers in Zen’s life are never easy. Fortunately, he definitely lives up to his name as each story unfolds and seems to place Zen between a somewhat slimy government minister, very convincingly played by Ben Miles (Patrick, Coupling), and his direct superior. While aptly named, the character, Zen, is a definite contradiction in terms as he consistently appears as being completely above board with a hint of possible corruptness and possessing an uncanny ability to get his shoes dirty during an investigation but, at the same time, ever-worried about messing his shoes up.

Zen “Vendetta” trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo-vZxQl9-U&NR=1

The tortured restraint only amplifies the chemistry between Zen and Tania Moretti, played by brilliantly by Caterina Murino, who just happens to be Zen’s superior’s secretary. Aside from Ben Miles, others in the cast that will be instantly recognizable to public television viewers are Ed Stoppard (Upstairs Downstairs) and Stanley Townsend (Sherlock) and Greg Wise (Return to Cranford).

Rufus Sewell talks Aurelio Zen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAiBkMURrLk

While this isn’t the classic mystery detectives of Marple, Poirot or Holmes, it’s well worth the time. Frustrating at times, but if for nothing else, the Italian backdrop is gorgeous.

In: Action/Drama,Actors/Actresses,Mystery