Moksha World

Let me start by saying that Inspector Montalbano is one of my all time favorite shows and one of my top three detectives of all time. If you haven’t watched any of the episodes in this series, you’re in for a great experience!

The series is based on the character created by author Andrea Camilleri. I watched the first episode when it was nominated for an International Emmy Award in 1999 or 2000. I had been studying Italian around that time, and I love mysteries, so I had no internal debate about this one. I have since watched most of the episodes multiple times. While the stories are interesting, the character of Salvo Montalbano is what I enjoy the most. He is not a person who gets along well with many people. Each episode is full of disagreements with various people, in particular his deputy, Mimì, and his girlfriend, Livia. Despite his difficult nature, he often has great sympathy for the criminals he arrests. He respects the old ways of Sicily and even certain “honorable” mafiosi. At the same time he believes in following the law. Understanding why he makes exceptions for certain criminals is baffling, yet intriguing. He follows his own code of ethics even if it puts him at odds with the police commissioner or his own detectives. He’s intensely annoying at times but then I forgive him when he finally seems to recognize that he is being really difficult.

The first episode, The Snack Thief, finds Montalbano searching for a “criminal” who is stealing food from people in town. The thief turns out to be a young Tunisian boy, François, whose mother has been murdered. All of the witnesses are in danger so he has to work cautiously to ensure their safety and solve the case. These two investigations are intertwined but how Montalbano works the case is the real mystery. During the course of the investigation, he and Livia become very attached to François and decide to try to adopt him (this storyline continues through many of the episodes). Much like my hero Hercule Poirot, Montalbano collects and processes clues but he is not quick to prematurely share any conclusions along the way. 

Immigration plays an important role in the series, as Sicily is strategically located in the Mediterrean. Murder, blackmail, mafia, drugs, and revenge are also common themes. The beautiful Sicilian scenery, lunches by the sea, farmers speaking Sicilian dialect, coffee on the veranda – Montalbano’s life seems ideal even amidst all this crime! His sense of humanity is deep, yet it is tested again and again as he witnesses the crimes people commit against each other. He is a hero that we can all relate to – he’s imperfect. Over the course of the series, we see him trying to evolve, trying to be easier to get along with. His relationship with Livia improves but he still fights with her, and of course with Mimì. He’ll never quite admit when he’s in the wrong. He’s frustrating but we know ultimately he wants to do the right thing. It reminds me that all of us are imperfect and we should try harder to understand what is behind someone’s behavior rather than assuming the worst. 

This is a dramatic series but there is an undercurrent of ironic comedy in every episode. Montalbano’s team is made up of some interesting characters; Galluzzo drives too fast, Catarella crashes into the door (“it slipped”), Fazio is utterly efficient, and Mimì is an indiscriminate womanizer. Then, there is Dr. Pasquano who curses Montalbano’s existence but then peacefully shares his cannoli with him in silence. They all are imperfect and endearing personalities, almost like a long lost branch of my family. I have often imagined visiting Montalbano for coffee and a chat on his veranda.

MHz Choice has all of the episodes on their platform in addition to some short documentaries about the series. You can also buy the DVD’s and books on Amazon. The books are a fast read and often contain descriptions of traditional Sicilian dishes. The house used for the series as Montalbano’s house is actually a B&B. A visit there is definitely on my travel list!