Maigret and the Dead Lover
                                                                                                                         
Director: Pascal Bonitzer
Year: 2026
Rating: 6.0
Aka - Maigret et le Mort Amoureux

Simenon's Inspector Maigret is alive and well. The pipe-smoking Inspector has had as many iterations as Sherlock Holmes. For reasons that seem out of place in today's age. Rarely, a man of action, he patiently mulls over cases, repeatedly questions suspects and witnesses, is a father figure to the men underneath him, a faithful husband to his wife who waits for him at home and slowly unravels the case and arrests the killer. The books are of course wonderful. Every time I read one, I want to move to Paris and spend my days sitting in cafes listening to French chansons over apéritifs.



Being a fan of the books has translated to watching as much Maigret as I can find; both film and TV. Ones that especially stick out to me were the three films made during WWII starring Albert Préjean as Maigret, the great Jean Gabin also in three films in the late 1950s, Gérard Depardieu was a fine Maigret in one film a few years ago. But it is probably TV where Maigret is best known. A few terrific series - Rupert Davies is a great Maigret in 52 episodes in the early 1960s. Maigret himself said "At last, I have found the perfect Maigret!". Other fine Maigret's were Michael Gambon in 12 episodes and Bruno Cremer in a French version for 54 episodes. And recently, Rowan Atkinson has taken on the role of the Inspector in four TV movies and I admit I had trouble taking Mr. Bean seriously but have noted that a lot of people on social media liked them. And yet another TV version is being released with Benjamin Wainwright as Maigret. I have not seen any but Wainwright is this young studly looking fellow, nothing like the Maigret of the novels.



And now this French film released in 2026 starring Denis Podalydès. The film is not really up to snuff and neither is Podalydès in truth. He is short and balding with zero charisma or presence. It strikes me as an odd casting decision. Partly, I admit because I have an image of Maigret as this large burly commanding man and this is far off. Besides that the film just kind of moves along with no sense of mystery or suspense. Maigret just interviews people and it is a simple mistake by the perpetrator that leads to their arrest. No great insight. A wealthy elderly man of means is found shot with five bullet holes in his study. The back story is interesting. He had a forty year love affair with a Princess that was never consummated as she was married. After her husband dies, it seems that they will finally be together. And then he is killed. Related or coincidence? Maigret's wife is played by the wonderful Irene Jacob (Red Colour), but again she is nothing like the wife of the books.