French crime series Singapura premieres in November

A French crime series titled Singapura, created by Elsa Marpeau and co-directed by Danielle Arbid and Lucie Borleteau, explores the lives of a deterritorialized bourgeoisie in Singapore. The series is based on Marpeau's novel L'Expatriée and follows Justine Lacanal (Naïlia Harzoune), a journalist who moves to Singapore with her partner and teenage stepdaughter in hopes of reviving their relationship.

Plot centers on a murder mystery in a privileged community

Justine’s partner, an emergency doctor, takes a sabbatical, while she joins a local French-speaking editorial office. As they settle into their new lives in a secure condominium for expatriates, Justine befriends Élisa Delestré (Ariane Labed), a free-spirited woman whose body is later found floating in a mangrove. Justine investigates the crime alongside the local police officer handling the case, uncovering resentments and secrets within the expatriate community.

Series critiques superficiality and class divides

The series highlights the superficiality of the expatriate community, including housewives who spend their time at the pool and husbands who flirt with Philippine house staff. The plot unfolds as a whodunit within the closed, privileged environment of the condominium, where everyone is a potential suspect. The series is described as a French counterpart to The White Lotus, using the thriller genre to critique the customs of the deterritorialized bourgeoisie.

Opening scene hints at systemic corruption

The opening scene shows Élisa leaning dangerously over the railing of an infinity pool, suggesting that the crime was an intrinsic part of the corrupted environment rather than a result of a chain of events. The series also touches on the expatriate community's struggle with a new colonial bad conscience and the insurmountable class violence that affects their relationships with the local population and Philippine maids.

Intimate relationships and historical violence explored

The series features intimate relationships, such as those between Justine and the police officer, and portrays the expatriate community as a persistent trace of an ancient violence that is difficult to dispel. Singapura will premiere on Canal+ starting November 2.