The Typist

Iris Berben plays Freya, who lost her daughter years before in what appear to be strange circumstances. She works as a typist for the police and frequently takes down verbatim interviews with those charged with murder. She is an introverted, contemplative loner who lives her life alone haunted by her daughter's disappearance and the lack of closure surrounding her fate .

This is quite a multi-layered narrative and over five episodes the truth surrounding Freya's life is stripped bare in a clever and complicated series of revelations. I liked the fact that sensationalism is omitted and replaced by believable actions and an ultimately acceptable denouement. Iris Berben's acting is underplayed in one sense, but quite riveting in another.

The series is set in today's Berlin, and although a dark theme is always pervasive the modern optimism of contemporary Germany is always to the fore.