Rural investigator balances dark humor and crime

A darkly humorous and visually distinct French-language series unfolds in the fictional rural community of Kingston-Falls, inspired by creator Aubert's childhood in Quebec. The narrative centers on investigator Gabriel Serpent, who must solve the mystery of a disfigured corpse while simultaneously striving to keep his small-town police station from closing.

Aubert, who serves as creator, writer, and director for all six episodes, discusses balancing dark humor with violence, emphasizing its role in truthfully depicting life's absurdities and providing a human lightness. The series' distinctive visual style deliberately recaptures the texture and grain of video from about 20 years ago, foregoing the sharpness of modern cameras for a rougher, luminous aesthetic with earthy tones.

The character of Gabriel Serpent developed organically, shaped by mystery and personal elements, including a complex father-son relationship that mirrors Aubert's own. The setting of Kingston-Falls, filmed in Danville near Kingsey Falls, is a transposed reality of Aubert's idyllic vision of his region, where beauty and ugliness coexist to generate compelling scenes. International sales are being handled by Encore Television Distribution.