Sophie Bandol discovers body – is it all just my imagination?

Sophie Bandol discovers body – is it all just my imagination?

A new TV highlight from Germany in 2017 delights viewers: in the exciting feature film “Commissioner Dupin”, the protagonist Sophie Bandol, played by Angela Winkler, is at the center of a mysterious story. After a night's shock, she discovers a corpse. But when the police arrive, the dead body has disappeared - a real mystery that raises questions. Did Sophie just imagine what she saw? This question concerns not only the main character, but also the investigators around Inspector Dupin, who takes the investigation into completely new directions with his different perspective, reports the ARD media library.

First broadcast on March 2, 2017, the film impresses with a gripping plot: Inspector Kadeg, played by Jan Georg Schütte, initially suspects that Sophie has succumbed to an illusion. But Dupin, brilliantly portrayed by Pasquale Aleardi, is convinced that a crime has taken place. The contradictions and secrets in the case of the missing body and the fate of a missing Scottish businessman open up a complex world of intrigue: another dead man, also from Scotland, is discovered.

Secrets and entanglements

The action unfolds in picturesque Brittany, where the investigation is making progress. Dupin uncovers complications surrounding local oyster farmers Baptiste Kolenc and businessman Matthieu Tordeux. Both have dark secrets that root the root of the crime deep in the region. But all the while, Dupin is also faced with the challenges of his impatient superior Locmariaquer, played by Udo Samel. The mix of personal difficulties and the urge to uncover the truth is what makes Dupin's character so captivating.

Crime in Germany has changed in recent years, as an analysis by Statista also shows. In 2024, the police crime statistics (PKS) recorded a decrease in crime by 1.7% to around 5.84 million cases. The main reasons for this are fewer cannabis crimes due to partial legalization. Nevertheless, many people's sense of security remains impaired by increasing violent crime. The most common types of crime are theft and fraud, while crimes against life account for about 0.1% of cases. What is exciting is that the clearance rate, which shows the ratio of solved to registered cases, was 58% in 2024, which represents a slight decrease compared to the previous year.

A film with a complex plot

With a strong cast and a creative team, the film ensures nerve-wracking hours. The music by Fabian Römer and Steffen Kaltschmid, for example, is impressive and perfectly underlines the mood of the film. The camera work by Arthur W. Ahrweiler does the rest to capture the dark and at the same time attractive atmosphere of Brittany. Thomas Roth's dynamic direction brings the plot to life in a vivid way. “Commissioner Dupin” not only keeps the audience guessing, but also makes them think about the increasing trends in crime.

For all crime fans and TV lovers, this film is a must-watch to learn the secrets of Brittany not only through the eyes of the characters, but also through current developments in crime policy.