L’Été ’36, petit plaisir #436 – The Simply Luxurious Life®

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The summer of 1936 in France ushered in the first summer of the mandatory holiday, and in this new limited series (6 episodes), a mystery is in need of being solved. People from all walks of life and social classes converge on Nice, and at the posh Riveria hotel a murder takes place.

The murder victim is a well-known face to American audiences. Cast as an elite French prosecutor named Adrien Jacquard, Arnaud Binard will be recognizable as Sophie’s husband in Emily in Paris. And if you regularly watch French series on MHzChoice, you will recognize him from a variety of French mystery series – Agathe Koltès, Murder In and others. But at the heart of the casting are the four women. From diverse backgrounds, each is attached or effected by the murder of Jacquard.

Again, for fellow Francophiles, you will be tickled to know that you will recognize some if not all of the leading ladies. Fans of Mismatch will recognize Constance Gay, Julie de Bona is the lead in the mystery series Erica that is set on the Brittany coast, Sofia Essaïdi also known for being an award-winning singer and Nolwenn Leroy, who is also a well-known singer and songwriter as well as actress. Each role played by these four women woman has a vested interest in finding the real killer.

Set in a stunning location along the Mediterranean and costumes that take us back to the chic and sophisticated attire of the 1930s as we emerged out of the modernity of the roaring twenties, the series gives us a glimpse into the world where various social economic classes collided, attempted to blend, yet a clear desire to hold tight to the privileges for some remained.

Titled Summer ’36 on Netflix, it premiered on July 1st this past summer, and in May of this year in France on TF1 under the original name L’Été ’36. I want to thank a listener of the podcast who suggested this series be considered as a Petit Plaisir because most definitely it a treat to watch. I zoomed through the episodes this summer, and I think you too will appreciate and enjoy it as well. Have a look at the trailer below and watch it now on Netflix.