Non Mi Lasciare (2022)

Creators Leonardo Fasoli (ZeroZeroZero, Gomorra) and Maddalena Ravaglo (Gomorra, Maltese) have turned the eight-part Don't Leave Me into an atmospheric and stylish thriller drama set in Venice. Detective Elena Zonin (Vittoria Puccini) investigates the trafficking of boys by a crime organization. She ends up in Venice where old love Daniele is working on a murder under suspicious circumstances. Together with Daniele's heavily pregnant wife, a delicious Italian triangolo amoroso develops.

Although sometimes predictable and a bit too slick, Don't Leave Me makes an impression. With excellent acting in typical Italian style. However, the leading role is reserved for Venice. Filmed without polluting tourists during corona in 2021, Don't Leave Me gives Venice a wonderful beauty in the photogenic spring light.

Translated from Dutch · View original

The crime story takes up about a third of this series, the rest is drama with a bit of mystery thrown in. If you look past the standard blunders in this kind of series, such as a main character with mental problems, unprofessional solo actions and cell phone connections that fail at crucial moments, then this is a pretty good series with an interesting and realistic crime story. The setting is also very beautiful. I went to Venice about fifteen years ago and back then it was already jammed with tourists, which is why this was also my last visit. In that respect I saw more of Venice in this series than back then. The cast is fine. If the last two episodes had had a bit more pace, I would have given them four stars.

Translated from Dutch · View original