''Parfum'' is a German 6-part crime tv series, loosely based on Patrick Süskind's titular novel which also was adapted for the big screen by Tom Tykwer in 2006. This is a really abrasive show with the most unlikable characters ever presented on television. The story which, unlike the novel, takes place in 2018 when a series of bizarre, brutal murders bring young police officer Nadja Simon (portrayed impeccably by Friederike Becht) in town in order to investigate those crimes who seem to be connected with odors and aromas emanated from the human body.
The narration unfolds in two different temporal dimensions, of the past and the present and the main characters are all connected by a common personal history, all being students in the same school in their youth. Each one has more than one skeletons in his closet and their secrets are revealed to the viewer in a rather slow tempo, culminating in the final episode where the murderer becomes known. I was surprised, as I guessed wrong on the identity of the killer and I found it to be a nice twist, something rare in the majority of the genre's tv shows, but what really sets apart ''Parfum'' from analogous attempts is its exceptional cinematography, a trademark as it seems of -almost- every German production, either on cinema or television. On the negative side, I would say that the story is a bit hard to digest, full of human depravity and wickedness and it's almost like the creators of the show are embracing a rather misanthropic view on the world and society.
If you are ready for a tough viewing experience then ''Parfum'' will most likely remain in your memories for a long time. If not, better skip it.
Review of Perfume
