More War, Spies and Period Dramas
Shadowplay
Let's jump to the end of WWII. Berlin, summer of 1946, the city is in chaos in the immediate aftermath of WWII: there are no laws, and everyone is either a criminal or a survivor. When American cop Max McLaughlin (Taylor Kitsch, Waco, Friday Night Lights) arrives to help create a police force and take down the Al Capone of Berlin, Dr Werner 'Englemacher' Gladow, he is also on a private mission to track down his missing brother, who's been killing former Nazis in hiding.
This series is from creator Måns Mårlind and co-director Björn Stein, both of Midnight Sun and pedigree. They know what SBS On Demand audiences want to watch.
Labyrinth of Peace
Set in 1945 Switzerland, this family drama follows brothers Johann and Egon after their very different war-time experiences. Johann, who avoided military service, is keen to take over the successful textile business of his fiancée Klara’s father; Klara is caring for displaced young Holocaust survivors. Egon has returned from service and in a new law enforcement role, is tasked with hunting down escaped Nazis. As we follow the family in the freshness of peace, the war lingers over them: Johann’s ambition brings him into contact with those who committed war crimes, Egon is caught in a system that turns a blind eye to Nazi criminals for the sake of profit and Klara’s relationship is put at risk as she grows closer to Herschel, a survivor. From creator Petra Volpe, this absorbing drama focuses on an oft-overlooked time and place in history.
Shadow Lines
Cold War, 1950s. The hottest spot would’ve been Washington or Moscow, right? How about Helsinki? It’s over Finland, wedged as it is between East and West, that the KGB and CIA are vying for control. Fresh from her student days in the US, Helena (Emmi Parviainen), on her return home, is promptly recruited by her godfather to join a top-secret taskforce to prevent the two global powerhouses from meddling in the presidential election and keep the country independent. But as Helena discovers the truth about her past, her personal and professional lives collide. With long-held secrets and political agendas coming to a head, the Finns must overcome lies and distrust if they have any chance of succeeding.
Co-writers mother and daughter duo Kirsti and Katri Manninen bring us this fascinating look inside Finland’s recent past.
Tell Me Who I Am
Based on the popular novel by Julia Navarro, this Spanish period drama begins in 1998 Madrid, but takes us back to 1934 then off to Buenos Aires and around Europe before returning to Spain. One day Javier, a successful publisher, receives a biography on his desk of the mother he never knew: Amelia Garayoa. Javier was taken from her as a newborn, the product of a marriage forced onto Amelia. When she meets Pierre, a French journalist and revolutionary, Amelia’s life takes a dramatic turn as she follows him to Argentina and ends up working as a spy. This lush adventure is dashing and exciting, with its romance and touch of espionage, and the hope of a reunion of sorts between mother and son.
The King of Warsaw
1937 Warsaw, Poland. The Jewish mafia rules the city. Head honcho is gangster socialist, Buddy Kaplica. His right-hand man, boxer, Jakub Szapiro who dreams of taking over Buddy’s top spot as King of Warsaw. But Buddy takes on young Moyshe Bernsztajn, in whom he sees his successor. While rumblings of war are getting louder, Jakub will face tragic choices, torn between loyalty to Buddy and a chance to fulfil his own ambitions, succumbing to the temptations of sex and violence along the way.
The Bureau
Let's jump forward in time and look at a different kind of special forces and it is safe to say you will quickly become addicted to this French spy thriller. Intricately plotted and based firmly on real-life events, The Bureau focuses on agents working for the Service of Clandestines, an elite unit within the DGSE (basically the French CIA or MI6). The writers met with working agents to develop the scripts; it’s so authentic the DGSE itself gave the show the stamp of approval. This spy thriller will hook you in with its tense storylines and world-class cinematic quality and make you wonder how on earth these agents are able to do what they do. With an incredible cast and creative team, plus filming across remarkable locations, this is unmissable television.
Agent Hamilton
Based on the best-selling Hamilton novels by Jan Guillou the series stars the charismatic Jakob Oftebro in the lead role of Carl Hamilton. On his return to Sweden, after training with the Navy SEALs in the United States, Hamilton is on a secret mission from his CIA employer Farrin Haig (Rowena King). He has been given the assignment to hunt down a group of terrorists responsible for a series of bombings and cyber-attacks that shook Sweden to its core. But to make things more complicated, on Haig's orders he also accepts a job at OP-5, a top-secret unit within the Swedish military, making him a double agent in the process.
COBRA
Starring Victoria Hamilton (The Crown) and Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) as the PM, COBRA (meaning Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) is the British government’s crisis team, put together to deal with national emergencies and this time there's a solar flare striking Europe. As the crisis unfolds, the group of senior civil servants, military and intelligence personnel do their best to manage the event, while dealing with the ongoing dramas in their personal and professional lives. Season 2 of the gripping political thriller has recently landed on SBS On Demand and the team now have to deal with a cyber attack on the UK.
More featuring the cast of 'Rogue Heroes'
Bang
From BAFTA award-winning writer Roger Williams (Tir), this drama series from Wales, with Welsh and English languages, is the story of a brother, a sister and a gun. Siblings Sam and Gina’s father was murdered when they were children. Now, Gina is a police officer and Sam (Jacob Ifan from and) a criminal. Season 1 follows their family saga as the shooting of a local businessman is investigated; Sam was entrusted to look after a gun before the shooting. In season 2, Gina, now a detective sergeant, leads a manhunt for a serial killer who’s targeting a group of men connected with a sexual assault from the past.
Set in the steel town of Port Talbot in south Wales, this series has plenty to sink your teeth into. The show took out the BAFTA Cymru Award and the Celtic Media Festival Award for best drama series.
Vigil
When a crew member is found dead on the Royal Navy’s HMS Vigil nuclear submarine, DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) is brought on board to investigate. The crew fob her off, telling her it was an overdose, but she suspects foul play; the crew close ranks. Meanwhile, Silva’s colleague Det. Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) investigates on dry land where another death convinces them of a coordinated attack. A further discovery enlivens grave threats to Vigil and her crew. Featuring an ensemble cast of familiar faces from the UK (including Connor Swindells), this series is a thrilling watch.
Seberg
Seberg is inspired by real events about the French New Wave darling and star, Jean Seberg, who in the late 1960s was targeted by Hoover’s FBI, because of her political and romantic involvement with civil rights activist Hakim Jamal. Starring Kristen Stewart as Jean Seberg, the cast also features Anthony Mackie, Zazie Beetz and Jack O'Connell as the young FBI recruit who is tasked with following Jane and becomes drawn to the actress.
Seberg is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Limbo
This BAFTA nominated film provides an offbeat observation of refugees waiting to be granted asylum on a fictional remote Scottish island. It focuses on Omar (Amir El-Masry), a young Syrian musician who is burdened by the weight of his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland. Although the film deals with sad themes, the tone of the film is perfectly balanced. It is sweet, funny, poignant and moving and features heartfelt performances from the whole cast including Amir El-Masry who appears in Rogue Heroes as Dr. Gamal.
Limbo is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Rogue Heroes premieres Wednesday 5 April on and at 9:30PM on SBS, with new episodes weekly.
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