Aurelio Zen

[walt]

Thanks for posting this review, GE2!

UKTV is showing the other two episodes for the next two Sundays, and word from Britain is that while the BBC sadly isn't making any more, another channel may pick up the franchise. Fingers crossed.

It would be rather interesting to learn how up to date this last information is?

[barbicanbelle]

Jan 2, 2012 12:40:08 GMT GreenEyesToo said:

Loved one of the comments in reply to a review about Sherlock in the Guardian online newspaper:

"perhaps the BBC should have missed Sherlock Holmes this time, and simply recommissioned Rufus Sewell in Zen Season 2."

www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/jan/01/tv-review-sherlock-holmes-hacks

Was about to post this link - just as well I checked. I too love Cumberbatch as Sherlock but would much much rather have more Zen!!

[kissmekate]

Oh, . That's a very nice review. "Playful" hits the nail on the head.

[GreenEyesToo]

Jan 4, 2012 7:16:19 GMT kissmekate said:

"Playful" hits the nail on the head.

I think that's the essence of what they were aiming for. I also liked the comment about Aurelio and Tania's relationship being a cat and mouse game, and she was definitely the cat....

[kygal]

I like all the positive attention Zen is getting again right now. Would be wonderful if the BBC would reconsider and give us more Zen. Might even forgive DC. I wont hold my breath again though.

[kissmekate]

Jan 4, 2012 11:22:39 GMT GreenEyesToo said:

I also liked the comment about Aurelio and Tania's relationship being a cat and mouse game, and she was definitely the cat....

Thanks for mentioning that again, I forgot to. Well said!

[castaneasativa]

Hello Ladies!

The other day I found a long Hungarian review (of 2011 May), speaking of Zen and Rufus in high terms. Unfortunately Zen has not been on air in my country, so people should find and watch it somewhere else. And they do! There are (many) blogs for series’ fans and I’d like to translate some parts of this Zen review to you from www.sorozatjunkie.hu/2011/05/07/zen-%E2%80%93-irta-symor/

The review starts with this quote:
Thank you, Detective. I see your reputation for scrupulous integrity is well-deserved.

The post characterizes the 3 episode-Zen with expressions like this: subtle humour, tissue of corruption, rising desires and grace of style. Then after an extremely detailed description of the story, and the „mood” of the series, you can read highly appreciative words about Rufus, too.
It goes like this:

All of the characters’ magic would not worth a straw without having chosen the right person for Aurelio Zen. Rufus Sewell is one of the actors who holds something unique. Beacuse of his undefinable quality of interacting he fits the character of the Venetian detective and the Italian environment like peas and carrots. Zen is reserved, shy, yet lax and informal at the same time, a kind of person who is very difficult to play.
But Rufus Sewell has an incredible ability to depict all the different subtle feelings and nuances. His impressive face with nice cheekbones, kind of a lazy but still intense piercing look of his eyes all serve to build his character. At the beginning of the shooting Caterina Murino was abashed at his closeness and the way he played. She said later that their scenes together were the most intimate love scenes of her career.
In point of fact, the creators of Zen use the harmony of Sewell and Murino to split the story of the episodes as if they were of two different nature: the romance and the investigation.
(…)
Upon what I have experienced of Zen so far I have to declare that a very refreshing buzz has come to an end. Beside it being unusual (showing a modern and complex Italy), the other reason of axing Zen could be that the story didn’t hurry off.
(…)
Zen is not about the cruelty of our world, even it shows reality with the crimes. It doesn’t want to cover its simplicity with quick cuts or tricky camera settings, but its simplicity exceeds an average production. Zen doesn’t dodge, the intelligent and autenthic feeling couldn’t touch the public at large. Strong admiration of minority fans and of major of the critics proved to be inadequate for the BBC to finance more episodes.

(The reactions to this review were positive, too).

[cricketgirl]

Castaneasativa--

Thank you for treating us to this wonderful review.

The author has captured very succinctly the essence of Rufus' incredible and sublime talent. Reserved, shy, lax and informal all at the same time--playing a complex character and making the performance so singular and outstanding yet subtle. I was especially thrilled with Caterina's thoughts about their intimate scenes together.

Yes, I would say that Zen is really an excellent showcase for Rufus' abilities.

CG

[kissmekate]

Oh, that's a very, very nice review, Castanea! Glad to hear that your fellow Hungarians are loving him.

(German TV still hasn't shown Zen either )

[judypatooty]

Love these reviews from around the world!

I especially liked the phrase from the NZ review: "mischievous gaze" describing Roof as Zen.

And this little bit from the second review: "...kind of a lazy but still intense piercing look of his eyes"

Perfect!

[rueful]

Thanks for posting those great reviews, GE2 and Castanea! I'm sure it's gratifying to Rufus to know that the viewers and reviewers enjoyed watching his work in Zen as much as he enjoyed making the show.

[kissmekate]

Maybe that's exactly why the playfulness of it works so well. You can feel how much he loved doing this.

[GreenEyesToo]

Jan 4, 2012 15:38:35 GMT judypatooty said:

Love these reviews from around the world!

So do I - great, aren't they?! Thanks, Castanea.

[castaneasativa]

Thank you too, ladies! It is always a nice duty to add something heartwarming in connection with Rufus. In addition, because I live in a small country where we have no official airing of some of his films/tv shows, it makes me even happier to find the finders here - those "locals" who can also appreciate Rufus' work.

[veerke]

Zen finally showing on Belgian TV ...FINALLY!!