The series will consist of four 50-minute episodes focusing on four murder cases that took place in the Grand Duchy between 1902 and 1910. Scriptwriter Fréderic Zeimet used archival research to bring these tales to life on screen.
“Through the series, viewers will gain insight into the police forces of the era, and the beginnings of the criminal police in Luxembourg. Each episode will offer glimpses of what happens in courts and behind the scenes; every episode will feature a segment set within the courtroom. But most importantly, the show will offer a wide array of fascinating characters.”, says Loïc Tanson, the show’s producer.
Filming started at the beginning of March. RTL was exclusively invited to spend a day on set, at Meysembourg Castle. Over nine days, all scenes set in the office of the main character, Albert Henrotin, were shot. While Meysembourg Castle provided the backdrop for indoor shoots, filming was also conducted in outdoor locations in the city of Luxembourg and Dudelange. However, recreating historical villages and streets was challenging in Luxembourg - the show might have to rely on special effects in post-production for more authenticity.
The show will be filmed in black and white, says Tanson. “We have two reasons for this. First of all, I was extremely inspired by the Film Noir genre. It’s a genre that has strong links with the police genre. It plays a lot with contrasts, with shadows, and with light. And I found that very interesting, especially for a series called ‘Marginal’ where it’s all about people who, so to speak, living in the shadows. I found that very interesting.”
The biggest challenge was to be as historically accurate as possible. Every detail, including costumes, settings, hairstyles, makeup, and even language, had to be taken into account.
The series is expected to air on RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg in early 2025, and further episodes are already being considered, according the producers, Luxembourg’s own Samsa Films.
Check out Today Radio’s interview with Loïc Tanson for his summer hit, Luxembourgish Western ‘The Last Ashes’, here.
