Lomax (Die Kinder)

Created by Paula Milne
(1947–)

Sorry, folks. Die Kinder is not yet another Bruce Willis movie — it’s German for “the children.” 

Instead, it’s perhaps the most noir-ish thing PBS’ MYSTERY! ever aired, a fondly-remembered (by the few who saw it) six-part BBC/PBS co-production that aired in 1990. Although the political thriller received zip attention at the time, its reputation has grown considerably over the years… but again, mostly by those who were lucky enough to have seen it in the first place.

Starring Miranda Richardson, Frederic Forrest, Derek Fowlds and Rob Walker, the show followed the exploits of a young London mother, Sidonie Reiger, who is going through hell. Her two children have been abducted by her ex, Stefan, a former radical activist for the German “Red Liberation Front,” who has taken them back to his home in Hamburg.

Desperate, and frustrated by both British and German authorities’ apparent indifference, she enlists the aid of the somewhat shady American LOMAX, a former CIA agent and disillusioned Vietnam vet now working as a private eye in Hamburg, who supposedly specializes in retrieving stolen children. He drinks a bit.

But it turns out that the children, both their parents and Lomax himself are just pawns in a much bigger game, involving both British and German intelligence, and an old terrorist group suspected of a department store bombing twenty years ago.

This was a truly fascinating series — defiantly provocative, murky and dark, miles away from most PBS mystery stuff — nobody even stops for tea. Miranda Richardson as Sidonie was great — her portrayal of a young mother desperate to find her children was spot on, while Frederic Forrest as the ex-pat eye with a dubious past was completely captivating.

Highly recommended. And a pleasant reminder that MYSTERY! was once capable of more than Lord Mucky-muck detectives and snoopy elderly lady sleuths.

Unfortunately, hardly anyone seems to remember this one, and as far as I know, it’s never been released on VHS, DVD,  Blu-Ray or whatever the kids are watching their vids on this week, and as far as I know has never aired again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

British screenwriter Paula Milne went on to create several other series for British television, including Second Sight, about a police detective losing his vision, and Chandler and Co., about two middle-aged female P.I.s that was eventually also aired on PBS. Although much lighter in tone, it’s also worth watching. Other credits include The Politician’s Wife, The Virgin Queen, Driving Ambition, Small Island and Endgame.

TELEVISION

• DIE KINDER
  (1990, BBC/PBS)
  Six one-hour episodes
  Created by Paula Milne
  Written by Paula Milne
  Directed by Rob Walker
  Produced by Michael Wearing
  A Lionheart Television Production
  Starring Miranda Richardson as Sidonie Reiger
  and Frederic Forrest as LOMAX
  Also starring Hans Kremer, Tina Engel, Ulrich Pleitgen, Hanns Zischler, Sam Cox, Derek Fowlds, Peter Attwood, Valerie Buchanan, Willow Gryles, William Hoyland, Godfrey Jackman, Karl Jenkinson, Charles Lewson, Michael O’Hagan, Emma Rawson
  • “Direct Action” (November 14, 1990)
  • “Ghosts” (November 21, 1990)
  • “Hidden Agenda” (November 28, 1990)
  • “Catastrophe Theory” (December 5, 1990)
  • “The Gathering Storm” (December 12, 1990)
  • “Revolution Recycled” (December 19, 1990)

NOVELIZATION

• Die Kinder (1993, by Gavin Richards) | Buy this book
  Based on the screenplay by Paula Milne

TRIVIA

• Actor Frederic Forrest also played an alcoholic private eye in the 1983 feature film Hammett, based on the novel by Joe Gores, and also appeared in The Two Jakes.

FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• German Eyes
• MYSTERY!
  Public Broadcast, Private Eyes (1980-2006)

Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.