Father Brown - Season 1 - DVD

Content: Whether as a book, TV series or feature film - the adventures of the likeable amateur investigator Father Brown have thrilled generations of crime fiction fans for over 100 years. While in Germany especially the Father Brown films with Heinz Rühmann and the contemporary Father Brown adaptation with Ottfried Fischer are known, in Great Britain so far Alec Guiness from the 1954 film The Strange Ways of Father Brown was considered the best embodiment of the novel character created by G.K. Chesterton, along with Kenneth More from a 13-part TV series from 1974. That rank is now up for grabs by Mark Williams, best known from the Harry Potter films, in a new BBC series.

This latest Father Brown adaptation is set in 1950s England. In the small town of Kembleford in the Costwolds region, Catholic priest Father Brown (Williams) is always there for his congregation - and not just at services or during confession. The unassuming Father Brown has developed a special talent for deduction through his love of crossword puzzles and detective novels, which is extremely helpful in his actual hobby: solving crimes. And there are an unusual number of them in his community. Whether a slain playboy, a murdered wife, the alleged suicide of a writer or the mayor killed by an electric shock - Father Brown always manages in his very special way to give the local Inspector Valentine (Hugo Speer) the decisive assistance in solving the cases - which brings the Inspector, with all admiration for Father Brown, sometimes to the brink of despair. The fact that the resolute parish secretary Mrs. McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) and the maid Susie Jasinski (Kasia Koleczek) also regularly take part in the investigations doesn't make things any more bearable for Valentine. But at the end of the day, there's no denying that, thanks to Father Brown, Kembleford can sleep soundly - until the next murder...

The 2013 adaptation of Father Brown certainly fails to impress with originality. From the very first scene it feels very familiar and the unexciting production also quite strictly follows all the rules of classic crime fare. What should be a clear weak point, however, actually turns out to be the real strength of the series. Because the old-fashioned charm that Father Brown radiates, lays like a warm blanket over the viewer and ensures that you can relax here in nostalgic security best. Certainly, the whole thing is not really exciting. In times when gritty Scandinavian thrillers dominate the crime world, a restrained investigator like the clergyman from fictional Kembleford with his rather conventionally constructed cases does seem a bit well-behaved - even if there are some rather bizarre deaths here.

But it is precisely this restraint that makes this new edition of the popular Father Brown series so successful. Viewers are well entertained here, served up some wonderfully dry humour by charming actors and given a real guarantee of good humour despite the murder and manslaughter. If you like British crime series in the style of Inspector Barnaby and love old-fashioned TV fare in the best sense of the word, you should definitely pick this up. Absolutely worth seeing!

Picture + Sound: The wonderfully nostalgic feeling that the series exudes also comes across well on the DVD thanks to the very warm colour scheme. The image sharpness can also convince in most moments, clear weaknesses such as image noise or dirt are not there. As unagitated as the series itself is also the sound, which in addition to the powerfully mixed dialogue in particular still with discreet ambient sounds and the atmospheric music for a little movement in the surround area. Good!

Extras: Bonus material has the box unfortunately not to offer.

F Conclusion: Even if Father Brown moves throughout on familiar terrain and no real own impetus, this in the best sense of the word old-fashioned crime series is extremely fun. Dry humor, charming actors, idyllic locations and exciting stories make this latest adaptation of the popular novels by G.K. Chesterton TV entertainment of the particularly likeable kind. For the DVD box of the first season there is therefore - although no bonus material is present - a clear: Absolutely recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp