Sara Stein From Berlin to Tel Aviv: The Complete Series

This compilation of four German-Israeli co-produced TV movies from 2016-19 centers on Sara Stein (Katharina Lorenz), a German police detective who puzzles her way to solutions of complex cases. In "Shalom Berlin, Shalom Tel Aviv," set in Berlin, Sara solves the killing of a Jewish nightclub DJ who has been dating a Palestinian immigrant. During the investigation she meets David (Itay Tiran), a visiting Israeli pianist, and falls in love, eventually joining him in his homeland. In "Jewels in the Grave," Sara—having transferred to the Israeli police force—struggles to gain acceptance from her new colleagues as she explores the apparent murder of an officer on their own squad, while also settling in as David’s wife and learning about religious practices that diverge from her own secularist background. "Masada" takes Sara to the titular ancient mountain fortress, where the death of an archaeologist leads to evidence of a smuggling ring that exports priceless historical artifacts. The final film, "Old Friends," starts with the discovery of a severed hand on the Mediterranean coast. Identifying the victim and determining why he was killed forces Sara to investigate the past of both her husband and her partner, who served together in the Israeli army. As a police procedural set against the background of political and religious issues arising from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Sara Stein is inherently intriguing. Unfortunately, the plotting can be weak and Lorenz is not the most compelling of protagonists. Still, this should be considered a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)