A still from ‘The Serpent’ on Netflix
The limited series produced jointly by BBC One and Netflix, tells the story of Charles Sobhraj, who preyed on western tourists on the hippie trail in the 70s
Watching
The Serpent is to relive the trusting times of travel in the ‘70s. The limited series produced jointly by BBC One and Netflix, tells the story of Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim), who preyed on western tourists on the hippie trail in the 70s. He was called the Serpent for his slippery, slithery ways.
Also Read | Get ‘First Day First Show’, our weekly newsletter from the world of cinema, in your inbox. You can subscribe for free here
What Happened To The Women In Charles Sobhraj’s Orbit Refinery29 12 hrs ago
The Serpent begins with a disclaimer that the true crime drama, which is based on the life and crimes of serial killer Charles Sobhraj, is only inspired by true events. Some of the names and circumstances have been changed both for dramatic purposes they’re trying to make some captivating television, you understand but also out of respect for Sobhraj’s very real victims and their families.
In real life, Sobhraj was accused of more than 20 murders throughout India, Thailand, Nepal, Turkey, and Iran in the 1970s but was never convicted of murder until 2004, reported the BBC at the time. Nicknamed “The Serpent,” Sobhraj was known to prey on young, usually Western travelers (and particularly women) who making their way along the “Hippie Trail” of the 1970s, or the overland route between Europe and South Asia that became popular for young backpackers in the 1960s and ’70s.
Nadine and Remi Gires
Nadine (Mathilde Warnier) and Remi Gires (Grégoire Isvarine) were the French neighbours of Charles and Marie in Thailand.
At the time, Sobhraj was posing as a gem dealer and Leclerc as his wife Monique.
In the series, it is revealed Nadine would introduce Alain to potential clients, some of whom would end up as his victims.
Nadine was unaware of Alain s murderous streak, until Dominique Renelleau (Fabien Frankel), a Frenchman Alain was holding captive in his apartment was able to tell her his suspicions.
As seen in the series, Nadine and her husband Remi assisted Herman Knippenberg and Angela with their investigation into Sobhraj.