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Detective Aurelio Zen (Rufus Sewell) is scrupulously, almost helplessly honest--which, in the woefully corrupt bureaucracies of Rome, makes everyone think he's incompetent or perhaps a bit stupid. Zen saunters through his cases, not always ahead of things or even on the right track, yet blessed with a gift for landing on his feet when bloody events go down. In "Vendetta," the first episode in this TV series, he investigates a seemingly shut-and-closed case while being hunted himself by someone from a past he's forgotten; in "Cabal," the unveiling of a sinister conspiracy hinges on a safety deposit box and an alluring high-class escort; and in "Ratking," an opulently wealthy family grapples with a kidnapping with precarious political stakes. Throughout, higher authorities push and prod at Zen to come to a desired conclusion, while Zen himself steers towards a delicate romance with a lovely--and married--coworker, Tania Moretti (Italian actress Caterina Murino, Casino Royale). Zen delights the ear and the eye--the plots and dialogue are swift and skilled, while the locations in Rome are gorgeous. Sewell slouches around in tailored Italian suits looking like Marcello Mastraoianni's louche little brother, dissolute on the surface but with a gleam of rectitude in his heavy-lidded eyes. He plays his part with delicious understatement, gleaning sly humor where he can, sometimes playing his cards well and sometimes desperately flailing to catch up with events that have outstripped him. And Zen may have the sexiest theme music in decades. A well-made and informative making-of featurette rounds out this satisfying set. --Bret Fetzer
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Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stylish and clever,
By
This review is from: Zen: Vendetta/Cabal/Ratking (DVD)
I first saw this series on PBS and loved it immediately. I had recently been to Rome and the series brought back so vividly the light, sounds, scenes, and textures of the eternal city. Having read the books the series was based on I could see where the BBC chose to wander a bit from the main, but without doing a disservice to the production. It is clever, cheeky, seductive and Rufus Sewell gives Aurelio Zen the perfect incarnation of a relatively decent man who is doing his best to swim through the tidal currents of a system that has ceased to make sense even to itself. Italian bureaucracy at its finest. The fact that he combines handsome with a sense of humour makes it about perfect. The supporting cast is excellent as well. The whole thing has a sort of retro feel to it, back to a time when intelligence and wry humour could co-exist seamlessly in movies. Very refreshing. I would highly recommend this to fans of British mysteries (even though it takes place in Italy) and anyone who likes style and substance in their viewing. Unfortunately, the BBC chose not to continue with the rest of the series, so this is all we will be getting of Aurelio Zen.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent and Sexy,
By Stacey "British Mystery Fan" (Fort Erie, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Zen: Vendetta/Cabal/Ratking (DVD)
Having watched all episodes on PBS I was enthralled in the entire series. Rufus Sewell plays Inspector Zen as a quiet, sexy, mischievous and contradictory man who tries to play by the rules despite the "powers that be" trying to influence him. You can't keep your eyes off this man as he meanders in and out of the cobbled streets of Rome and the gorgeous Italian countryside while trying to put together the pieces of each case he's working on. This is one of those series that leaves you wanting more - or so much more. No other actor but Rufus Sewell could play this sexy Italian man with such passion and in such a quiet unassuming manner. Bonus - the stories are great, too!!!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed watching it,
By Duchess "Duchess" (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Zen: Vendetta/Cabal/Ratking (DVD)
On the Sunday night cinema on PBS (last night), I watched the first movie called "Vendetta" and I have to admit that it was not anything like what Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Midsomer Murders is like or has to offer, but I still enjoyed seeing something new. "Vendetta" was about a man who was sent to prison for something he didn't do and was out and determined to get the people to "pay" for what was done to him. With all the twists and turns in this story plot, it was still an interesting movie to watch and it has a couple of other ones coming out for next Sunday and the Sunday after. As to whether I would buy this, I would have to see the other two before I could make my decision. I try and look at each mystery with new eyes and find the good qualities in it before I deem it to be good or bad. This series "Zen" is done in Italy and this is where it has not quite the same ways as what the British or movies shot in England have. I find I still like it partly because it is not the same type of "blood, guts and gore" that what the American police dramas or mysteries show.
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