Miss Fisher and The Crypt of Tears: Forget Indiana, Miss Fisher Does It Her Way

Being from the US, I don’t get to see a lot of the series coming out of Australia and the UK. I had heard that Miss Fisher, created in a book series by author Kerry Greenwood, was a female twist between Indiana Jones and James Bond.

While I can see the comparisons, Miss Fisher (Essie Davis) is in a league of her own and way ahead of her time.

Answering The Call

The film starts out with an intense chase of Miss Fisher through the streets of 1929 Jerusalem. Miss Fisher navigates the streets, sidewalks and roofs evading her would be captors.with such flair, ease and lightness it would make Bond and Indie jealous.

Her mission, after being gone these five years, is to find and rescue her friend, Sheikh Kalil Abbas’s (Kal Naga) niece Shirin Abbas (Izabella Yena) from wrongful imprisonment. Shirin is a political prisoner during very hot button times between Israeli’s and Palestinians.

Shirin tells Miss Fisher that she cannot leave Palestine until she figures out who attacked her village years ago and avenges her friends and family from the attackers. Miss Fisher convinces her to leave and promises her that she will help Shirin find the resolution she is seeking in safety.

A mishap on the train they escape on leaves people thinking that Miss Fisher perished in her rescue attempt, but, as expected, Miss Fisher has a few more tricks up her sleeve.

The Plot Thickens

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Miss Fisher’s friends, thinking she died, gather at the estate of Lord “Lofty” Lofthouse (Daniel LaPaine) and his brother Jonathon Lofthouse (Rupert Penry-Jones) for a memorial. Miss Fisher sweeps in on a plane and lands right amidst her own memorial.

Though most of the people are thrilled to see her alive, one, the obvious and adorable love of her life, Detective Jack Robinson (Nathan Page) is not. He’s clearly hurt she didn’t tell him and let’s her know it. Both the Sheikh and Shirin are guests at the estate because the Sheikh is in the midst of garnering a deal with the English for a railway in Palestine.

In the meantime, Shirin receives a letter from someone she thinks is her “angel”, sent to watch over her from Allah. She tells Miss Fisher that this was the man that saved her from dying in a sandstorm when her village was attacked. Miss Fisher steps in to protect Shirin and agrees to meet this man in her stead.

When Miss Fisher returns with Shirin’s mother’s necklace, a whole new set of questions arises and sends them on another adventure back to Shirin’s roots and towards the answers involved with how this “angel” got the necklace in the first place. The necklace becomes the key to the answers that Shirin seeks and it entangles them all in a web of intrigue, danger and ancient curses no one expects.

In All Honesty…

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This is a very entertaining film that is truly enjoyable, for the whole family. It hearkens back to the murder mysteries of old the likes of Agatha Christie, mixed with the comedy of 1985’s Clue.

Miss Fisher is a solid, consistent character with a whole lot of charisma. Would love to see a modern female character like this on the big or little screen. It’s refreshing that not all of the adventures and spoils go to the men. Like the “Bond Girls”, Miss Fisher has herself a “friend” at every port and no over the top convenience in the plot is spared to keep her safe.

In a time when women were expected to marry and have children, Miss Fisher is out exploring the world and all of the treasures it holds. She admits to not being “the marrying kind” regardless of how many suitors wish to pin her down and does an outstanding job at things only men are supposed to do.

Director Tony Tilse does a superior job handling a sizable, stellar cast while expertly juggling all of the contrasting locations. Writer Deb Cox delivers a story chock full of twists, turns and romance to keep any murder mystery fan satisfied.

I was a bit disappointed to see the hero, as usual for women portrayed in film, constantly operating and running in heels. This is a stereotype steeped in the male gaze of she-roes that seriously needs to end, because we all know that women can and would rock some athletic shoes. Given the time period of this film, though, I was more forgiving.

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Cinematographer Roger Lanser transports us into the lavish world of the film with a copious amount of amazing shots and Costume Designer Margot Wilson polishes the cast off with lavish, complementary ensembles, impeccably chosen for the period.

For my U.S. and Canadian readers, Acorn TV is extending a free, 30 Day Trial for new and former subscribers. Use FREE30 in the promo code box when signing up. Acorn TV is exclusively featuring all three previous seasons of Miss Fisher, along with this, their first feature film, with your subscription.

Sit back and stay safe with your family for some surefire fun!