Whereas 'One' was a gritty thriller, 'Two' a comedy of errors, 'AfterLife' is a very different ballgame. Quoted as a melodrama on the DVD, its emotional clout, this final instalment of the Trilogy, is immense, churning and raw.
Acted with true conviction of the jackpot lottery that is long-term drug addiction by actress Dominique Blanc and an almost disarming level of devotion from her policeman husband, this is stuff that made me hit the pause button as I found it a little overwhelming at times. Don't get me wrong, this is brilliant stuff but like the real deal, isn't an easy ride. Without adding a spoiler, there is light at the end of the tunnel - as there indeed is for any addict, given love and support.
What made it all the more worthwhile was how effortlessly the jigsaw pieces fell into place from (especially the first) previous parts and rather like coming clean and sober, the veil of confusion slowly lifts. The intense mood of the piece doesn't allow you to think beyond your TV screen - you almost don't have the energy to question 'what-if's' etc. It all goes to show that behind every addict, every killer, every crooked cop, there's a plethora of interweaving stories that form an individual and they're all linked in some way or another.
Other user reviewers have explained the scenario better than I can. But, as such I feel slightly battered and bruised from the experience of it all, and in all honesty not always a totally rewarding one.
That boxset of Belavaux's had been sitting on my shelf for months and I'd not really known what lay inside. One could question as to why practically no-one's ever heard of this trilogy and as to whether it should be better known. The latter's answer is definitely YES, but it isn't for everyone and does require quite a commitment in both time and emotional energy. Christmas holidays may well make space, time-wise, but you, the viewer have to provide the rest yourself.
Acted with true conviction of the jackpot lottery that is long-term drug addiction by actress Dominique Blanc and an almost disarming level of devotion from her policeman husband, this is stuff that made me hit the pause button as I found it a little overwhelming at times. Don't get me wrong, this is brilliant stuff but like the real deal, isn't an easy ride. Without adding a spoiler, there is light at the end of the tunnel - as there indeed is for any addict, given love and support.
What made it all the more worthwhile was how effortlessly the jigsaw pieces fell into place from (especially the first) previous parts and rather like coming clean and sober, the veil of confusion slowly lifts. The intense mood of the piece doesn't allow you to think beyond your TV screen - you almost don't have the energy to question 'what-if's' etc. It all goes to show that behind every addict, every killer, every crooked cop, there's a plethora of interweaving stories that form an individual and they're all linked in some way or another.
Other user reviewers have explained the scenario better than I can. But, as such I feel slightly battered and bruised from the experience of it all, and in all honesty not always a totally rewarding one.
That boxset of Belavaux's had been sitting on my shelf for months and I'd not really known what lay inside. One could question as to why practically no-one's ever heard of this trilogy and as to whether it should be better known. The latter's answer is definitely YES, but it isn't for everyone and does require quite a commitment in both time and emotional energy. Christmas holidays may well make space, time-wise, but you, the viewer have to provide the rest yourself.