04/04/2025 - In the upcoming show directed by Michèle Jacob, the past resurfaces when the disappearance of a teenager brings to light long-buried secrets between a grieving mother and her son’s alleged killer

Set in the fictional small post-industrial town of Gravines, Arcanes delves into the intertwining mysteries of a missing teenager and the unsolved death of a former factory manager’s son. Set in the 1990s, the series follows the disappearance of a local teenager, Stella, which reopens old wounds for Clémence Rosier, the last CEO of the MTLK factory before it closed down. Her son Benjamin's unsolved death two years prior is now tied to the case, and Clémence is forced to team up with Antonio D’Ambrosio, a factory worker long suspected of being involved in her son’s death. The duo must decode a mysterious book written by the two children, uncovering secrets that threaten to destroy the fragile community.

The six-episode murder mystery-thriller series is co-created by Michèle Jacob and Ben Dessy, with Jacob also directing. The cast features Jasmina Douieb, Lara Hubinont, Michelangelo Marchese and Marc Weiss.

Producer Diana Elbaum, of Belgium’s Beluga Tree, explains the approach to creating the industrial setting of Gravines: “Arcanes takes place in this fictional post-industrial town, once at the heart of the region's steel industry. It thrived until the 1990s, when factory closures triggered mass strikes and political unrest. To recreate this atmosphere, we didn’t have to look very far – such post-industrial towns still exist in Wallonia, not far from Brussels. However, they are evolving, and industrial sites are becoming scarce. Fortunately, we were still able to access some of the remaining locations.”

The search for the right locations was one of the production team’s main challenges. Elbaum recounts, “Scouting locations proved to be one of our biggest challenges in pre-production – our scouts literally went from door to door, searching for the right interiors.” One crucial scene, set on a bridge where a critical death occurs, could not be filmed in Belgium. “This led us to Slovenia, where producer Miha Černec [of Staragara] joined us as a co-producer. There, we found a bridge that perfectly met our needs,” she explains.

At the heart of Arcanes is the unlikely partnership between Clémence and Antonio, who, despite their social differences and personal histories, must work together to uncover the truth. Elbaum reveals, “From the outset, we knew we wanted to bring a unique twist to the murder mystery. Co-creator and co-writer Ben Dessy grew up in a town like Gravines – his family owned a steel plant, and as the economic situation deteriorated, he experienced firsthand the intense hostility between workers and plant owners, even receiving death threats. This personal history became the foundation of the story.”

Elbaum continues, “At the core of Arcanes is Clémence, the last CEO and heiress of MTLK, and D’Ambrosio, a former MTLK worker and the sole suspect in her son’s death. While the police ruled her son Benjamin’s death as an accident, Clémence never believed the official story. Meanwhile, D’Ambrosio, an outcast, is desperate to clear his name. Given their social backgrounds and personal history, they are natural enemies – the last two people who would ever collaborate. But when Stella, Benjamin’s best friend and D’Ambrosio’s niece, disappears at the start of the story, they realise they have no choice but to work together. Arcanes captures the tightly woven fabric of Gravines, where, like in many such towns, everyone is connected by either work or family. Clémence and D’Ambrosio’s unlikely partnership sets off a butterfly effect, with consequences they could never have foreseen.”

Elbaum credits the Council of Europe’s (CoE) Programme for Series Co-Production Support as being vital to the success of Arcanes. “The Programme for Series Co-Production Support was absolutely essential to the project. It gave us the financial backing to move forward, particularly by enabling us to shoot in Slovenia – where, aside from tax rebates, there is no direct support for international TV series. At the same time, we had to ensure that Belgian funds were spent in Belgium. This programme provided the oxygen we desperately needed to make it all work.”

She also highlights the importance of strong partnerships in overcoming the challenges inherent in the series. “I can only praise the support and the dedicated people behind it. Arcanes faced major challenges, but we were able to overcome them thanks to the strength of our partnership with Alex, Clémentine, Alissia and the rest of our collaborators. Having financial backing is one thing, but having great partners alongside it is rare, and an absolute gift,” she concludes.

The series is currently in post-production and had its world premiere in Series Mania Forum’s Coming Next Series section. It is being produced by Belgium’s Beluga Tree SA in co-production with Slovenia’s Staragara, as well as Proximus and RTBF, with international sales handled by RTBF Creative.