The late Anthony Minghella has such a rich film legacy, and even a year after his death, he has left us with a wonderful premiere series pilot film to savor March 29, Sunday night at 8 P.M. on HBO.
Jill Scott is resplendent as Precious Ramotswe, image courtesy of HBO/Keith Bernstein
And a real gift it is. Minghella wrote the screenplay (with Richard Curtis) and directed “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” for HBO, a new series set and filmed in both the verdant and arid landscape of Botswana.
There are so many outstanding elements to this film, and it is a must see sumptuous feast for the eyes on Sunday night. Tomorrow night's premiere episode is the first of seven.
Grammy winning artist Jill Scott was discovered by Minghella to play lead character Precious. At the 2009 winter TCA’s, Scott talked about how she came to the role. “It’s a funny thing, the project actually found me. The director, Anthony Minghella, contacted me after a colleague suggested I would be great for the part. He was searching for Precious for years and after watching a few of my performances on YouTube, I piqued his interest enough for an audition."
The film is a visual smorgasbord of color, scenery and perfectly framed shots that take you far away, and are all a credit to the exceptional lensing of cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, an Irish DP who first hit my radar with “High Fidelity” in 2000. His work is exemplary here.
The authenticity the filmmakers ended up with was thanks to their collaborative efforts in Botswana; a country not consumed by terrible problems. You see normal life, shops, offices, families living everyday lives. All captured in its stunning beauty, set to perfect music by Gabriel Yared.
While we are praising the crafts, the art department shines in this production with Production Designer Johnny Breedt, Art Director Vivienne Gray, Set Decorator Melinda Launspach and Costume Designer Jo Katsaras – each who have each done amazing Emmy-winning quality work.
"The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" is based on the eponymous literary series by Alexander McCall Smith. Richard Curtis and Minghella together penned the screenplay, and Curtis spoke about keeping the vision of the series intact. “In the original pilot, Anthony explained Mma (Precious) Ramotswe’s complex history-her world, the setting up of the agency and a whole bunch of stories. Things can be a bit simpler in the shorter episodes, but we are trying to keep all the flavors that Anthony was aiming for-the reality of the lives of the leading characters and the complexities of Africa-as well as trying to tell cracking detective yarns.”
Minghella and McGarvey take us first to a small, dusty village that's home to Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott).
Jill Scott is already an accomplished three-time Grammy winner. The camera loves her and her velveteen voice explains to us her circumstance and story.
Her character Precious' doting, well-off father recognizes a rare gift of wisdom and cognitive problem solving with her as a young girl. Any women out there who are “daddy’s girls” watching the scenes where Precious, as an adult, is summoned to her dying father’s bedside where he admonishes her to find a man who will be kind to her (her first husband was an abusive cad), will be wrecked.
His death sets up Precious as a woman of means, stature and frees her to listen to her inner voice guiding her to seek her passion, to help people and become a detective in her beloved Botswana. Precious sets her sights on the big town of Gaborone.
Soon a colorful cast of side players help Precious establish the Agency. Grace walks into her life, as ramrod and professional as they come, played by Anika Noni Rose. Precious can see the hurt and fear under the buttoned-up exterior.
Neighboring businessman BK (Desmond Dube) is the affable gay hairdresser who immediately takes to Precious like a brother, and the man who delivers Precious to her new life in Gaborone, mechanic JLB (Lucian Msamati), is the besotted widower who looks after her.
Without giving away all the gems of the film, rest assured that no case is too small for her to solve, whether it be an unfaithful husband or a fake daddy. But the film’s action is really based on one of her more daunting and complex assignments that involves child abduction and very bad magic.
HBO hasn’t been this good in years.
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