Escape to Saint-Pierre, a quaint French island with picturesque views – and a murderous underbelly
CBC Gem | Posted: December 23, 2024 5:29 PM | Last Updated: 15 hours ago
Everything you need to know about the CBC drama series Saint-Pierre starring Allan Hawco and Joséphine Jobert
We invite you to join us on the adventure of a lifetime: An exclusive VIP getaway to Saint-Pierre, the capital of a group of remote French islands located just 45 km off the coast of Canada's Newfoundland.
Formerly a rum runner's paradise, Saint-Pierre hosts a new (and old) collection of mobsters carrying deep, dark secrets. It's the perfect place to disappear and bury your past.
Take in the stunning landscapes, picturesque harbours, quaint homes and seafront boardwalks. Enjoy the French culture, music, wine, food and a large share of drama.
Where to stay
You'll be staying at the charming Hotel Robert, a large oceanfront property, a two-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Now over a century old, this fully renovated and comfortable 43-room inn has hosted numerous celebrities including the internationally famous Al Capone.
If you see a grown man sleepwalking in his underpants after dark, don't worry, he's harmless.
How to get there
- A 9-hour domestic flight from Paris, France
- A 45-minute international flight from St. John's. Newfoundland
- A 90-minute ferry from Fortune, Newfoundland (pack a barf bag for the trip)
Meet your hosts
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Inspector Donny "Fitz" Fitzpatrick
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (SPMP) Deputy Chief Geneviève "Arch" Archambault
International crime boss, Sean Gallagher
Ex-software programmer, bar owner and local historian Veda Gonsalves
Spanish migrant and local fisherman Kadeem Hamza
SPMP Chief inspector Marcus Villeneuve
SPMP trainee and nepo-baby Patty Montclair-Yo
Coroner Emmanuelle Phenix
Cop and local amateur baker, Renuf Aucoin
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (SPMP) Deputy Chief Geneviève "Arch" Archambault
International crime boss, Sean Gallagher
Ex-software programmer, bar owner and local historian Veda Gonsalves
Spanish migrant and local fisherman Kadeem Hamza
SPMP Chief inspector Marcus Villeneuve
SPMP trainee and nepo-baby Patty Montclair-Yo
Coroner Emmanuelle Phenix
Cop and local amateur baker, Renuf Aucoin
Note: Everyone who lives in Saint-Pierre has a secret. It might take some time to coax them out.
Things to do
Enjoy a day trip to see the puffins (and maybe a human corpse or two) on Île aux Marins, just a 15-minute boat ride from the main island.
Poke your head into the island's church, Notre-Dame-des-Marins, a unique spot for destination weddings. The altar has been recently refurbished (they had to replace some flooring after last season's unfortunate event with an antique firearm).
Explore the local museum to learn about the islands' colourful rum-running history. Saint-Pierre even has a guillotine from the Napoleonic era that is rumoured to be in working condition.
Looking for nightlife? You can dance the night away at Le Joinville Disco, a 200-year-old (!) nightclub. Or visit the local pub where the chatty bartender loves to spill tea while she pours pints — she claims to have helped police solve more than a few local crimes.
If you are in town over July 14, stay for the iconic Bastille Day celebrations, commemorating the start of the French Revolution. The event includes games, fireworks, a ball and, according to local gossip, the occasional murder.
What to bring
- Your passport
- Currency in Euros
- A 222v converter for your electronic devices
- A warm, waterproof (consider: bulletproof) jacket
FAQ
The islands' notorious bootlegger past and remote location in the middle of nowhere make them the perfect destination for smuggling, vanishing and evading the law. Saint-Pierre is a modern-day Wild West, a refuge for some of the world's most dangerous criminals.
Your guide is Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Inspector Donny "Fitz" Fitzpatrick, a highly decorated detective deployed to Saint-Pierre after a professional and personal meltdown. He teams up with Deputy Chief Geneviève "Arch" Archambault who's looking to settle some scores of her own.
Join them on a wild crime-fighting ride on Saint-Pierre, a new drama series now streaming on CBC Gem.
Here's what you need to know.
What is Saint-Pierre about?
Inspector Donny (Fitz) Fitzpatrick (Allan Hawco) is exiled to work at Saint-Pierre after digging a little too deeply into a local politician's nefarious activity. His arrival disrupts the life of Deputy Chief Geneviève (Arch) Archambault (Joséphine Jobert), a seasoned cop who requested a transfer there from Paris three years ago for reasons she keeps to herself.
As partners, they make an unconventional team. Fitz works from his gut, relying on intuition and his ability to read people. Arch is highly analytical, a person who finds big answers in the smallest of details.
Although the islands seem like a quaint tourist destination, this idyllic facade conceals the worst kind of criminal activity — which tends to wash up on its beautiful shores.
As they work to solve crimes on an island where everybody has a secret, Arch and Fitz discover that they are better together.
"The dynamic between Fitz and Arch is electric; they are Sherlock to each other's Holmes," explains actor Allan Hawco, "their chemistry is undeniable, and it's what sets this show apart."
Where can I watch the Saint-Pierre trailer?
Here it is!
Who is in the Saint-Pierre cast?
Joséphine Jobert (Death in Paradise) plays Arch and Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle, Caught, Jack Ryan) plays Fitz, with James Purefoy as international crime boss Sean Gallagher (Rome, Sex Education, The Following).
Benz Antoine (Four Brothers, Get Rich or Die Tryin') plays Marcus Villeneuve, Erika Prevost (Dare Me, The Next Step, The Boys) plays Patty Montclair-Ito and Jean-Michel Le Gal (Paris Paris, Frontier, Orphan Black) plays Renuf Aucoin, who all work in the police station in Saint-Pierre.
Where was Saint-Pierre filmed?
The exterior shots of Saint-Pierre were filmed, where else, but Saint-Pierre (which is indeed a real place!)
"There's no amount of money a show could have to create the atmosphere that Saint-Pierre was giving us," says Hawco. "The setting provides a rich and unexplored backdrop that adds a layer of intrigue and charm to the series."
Who is the creative team behind Saint-Pierre?
Saint-Pierre was created by Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle, Son of a Critch), Robina Lord-Stafford (WIld Cards, Pretty Hard Cases, Moonshine) and Perry Chafe (Republic of Doyle, Frontier, Caught) and produced by Hawco Productions in association with global film and TV studio FIFTH SEASON.
Where can I watch Saint-Pierre in Canada?
Watch Saint-Pierre in Canada now streaming on CBC Gem.
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