In ‘Dept. Q,' Netflix continues a trend of finding hits across the globe
Based on Jussi Adler-Olsen's novel 'The Keeper of Lost Causes,' and created by Scott Frank (who brought a similar storytelling verve to his breakout 2020 Netflix limited series '
Yes, the streamer cranks out its share of dross, especially in the true crime genre. But it also has a history of success with programming from across the globe, including the likes of 'Baby Reindeer' (from Scotsman Richard Gadd), 'Adolescence' (from Englishman Stephen Graham), 'Squid Game' (South Korea, Hwang Dong Hyuk), '
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In movie terms, you could think of 'Dept. Q' as a descendent of the Euro American art film — think Michelangelo Antonioni's 'Blow-Up' (1966), or Wim Wenders's 'Paris, Texas' (1984). But such a description doesn't do justice to the show's fiendishly entertaining flavor. As grim as it can get, 'Dept. Q' offers a world of viewing pleasure.
Chris Vognar, a freelance culture writer, was the 2009 Nieman Arts and Culture Fellow at Harvard University.
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