Broadchurch - Season 1 - Blu-ray

Film: A terrible tragedy casts a dark shadow over the small seaside village of Broadchurch: the body of 11-year-old Danny Latimer is found at the foot of a cliff. For DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman), who has only just recovered from the shock of losing the promotion she was promised to new colleague DI Alec Hardy (David Tennant), the news is particularly horrific. After all, Danny's parents Beth (Jodie Whittaker) and Mark Latimer (Andrew Buchan) are not only her neighbours but also good friends. Things get even worse when circumstantial evidence hardens that the boy did not die in an accident, but was the victim of foul play. Together with the narrow-minded and extremely secretive Alec Hardy, Ellie must now search among friends and acquaintances for Danny's killer. And the closer they get to the terrible truth, the more the previously peaceful and solidary village fabric is shaken to its foundations by mutual suspicions, rumours and slander...

Broadchurch by Chris Chibnall is undoubtedly one of Britain's best crime productions of recent years. The story may sound rather conventional. Also the fact that the viewer here not only follows the police work, but is also shown what impact the crime has on the victim's family and the entire village community, you know from other series such as Commissioner Lund. And yet the 8-part first season never feels like a predictable plagiarism, but can captivate with an engaging atmosphere, excellently drawn characters and surprising twists from the first to the last minute.

Shooting took place in the regions of Somerset and Dorset. The locations are picturesque and suggest a deceptive idyll that is gradually dismantled. Alongside the actual crime, the work of the press plays an important part in this. Revelations that were supposed to remain private are brought out into the open. This exposes that the formerly peace and cohesion in the community was extremely superficial and sometimes extremely mendacious. Mutual suspicions, rumours and slander spread, dark secrets are revealed and in the end life in Broadchurch will never be the same again.

The exciting story is carried not only by the atmospheric images but also by the very good ensemble. Olivia Coleman is perfectly cast as a fun-loving policewoman who seems almost a wee bit naive in her good nature and whose worldview is gradually destroyed. No less good is David Tennant, who is able to completely break away from his Doctor Who image after only a few moments here. His DI Alec Hardy is a misanthrope marked by professional as well as personal defeats, who sees in the case of Danny Latimer the opportunity to redeem his reputation and silence his inner demons. There is a very special dynamic between these two completely disparate investigators, which is intensified by the use of pleasantly subtle humor. But the rest of the cast also deliver top-notch performances, most notably Harry Potter caretaker David Bradley as a local kiosk owner with a dark past, or Jodie Whittaker as a grieving mother who has to deal with some other upsetting news besides the death of her son.

Of course, the wheel is not being reinvented here. Broadchurch is not a revolution in the genre. But it is an extremely tense, entertaining and excellently directed piece that proves once again the excellence that contemporary television can have away from reality shows and docusoaps. If you like crime fare from the UK that's compelling in all areas, you'll quickly become hooked here and can hardly wait for the release of the second season. For that, here's a very clear: Absolutely worth watching!!!

Picture + Sound: The color scheme is extremely atmospheric, with the somewhat undercooked hues capturing the oppressive mood of the story very well. Image sharpness is at a good to very good level for a recent TV series. Even in gritty scenes, smaller details come through decently. The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix is also pleasantly atmospheric, with voices sounding very directional. Ambient noises such as wind and ocean noise, as well as smaller sound effects, however, also ensure that the surround channels get something to do every now and then. Good!

Extras: On the first disc is next to an entertaining audio commentary on the first episode with David Tennant, director James Strong and producer Richard Stokes still a very worth seeing look behind the scenes (about 25:23 min.). This making of offers a pleasantly commercial-free look at the production but, to avoid any spoilers, should definitely be watched after the final episode.

Disc 2 also has an audio commentary on board. In this one, James Strong, actress Olivia Coleman, and series creator Chris Chibnall talk about the stirring season finale. In addition, here are some cut scenes from each episode (approx. 25:36 min.). Good!

Conclusion:Broadchurch is undoubtedly one of the best British crime productions of recent years. Atmospherically filmed, intensely acted and grippingly directed, it tells the story of a murder case that will permanently change the dynamics of an entire seaside town. It's a great series that keeps you gripped until the very last second with its carried pace, underlying humor and shocking twists. The Blu-ray presents the eight episodes in very good picture and sound quality and also has very worth seeing and hearing bonus material on board. For this there is a very clear: Absolutely recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp