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Netflix just added a brand-new documentary that might just be your next true crime binge.
Murder in Monaco tells the absurd true story of murdered billionaire Edmond Safra, whose body was found in his penthouse after having apparently died from smoke inhalation in 1999.
But not everything is as it seems, and a twisted plot is quickly revealed.
The documentary currently sits comfortably in the Netflix top 10, and Watch With Us already understands why it’s so popular.
We break down why you have to tune in to Murder in Monaco this week.
Is ‘Murder in Monaco’ Based on a True Story?
So, is Murder in Monaco based on a true story? Yes, but it’s so weird, you may not believe it. In the 1990s, Edmond Safra was one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, having amassed his fortune as a private banker to wealthy individuals and celebrities. He once worked with Russian oligarchs but eventually turned informant, which caused him to employ an armada of security to keep him safe. Due to his Parkinson’s disease, he also employed several nurses.
One night, a fire broke out in Safra’s vast Monaco residence, and while Safra’s wife, Lily, escaped, Safra and one of his other employees, Vivan Torrente, fled to a panic room where they ultimately died from inhalation of smoke fumes. When the dust had literally settled, one his Safra’s nurses, Ted Maher, claimed that the fire had broken out after a burglary occurred, during which he was stabbed twice. He then claimed to have lit a wastebasket on fire to trigger the alarm and alert authorities. However, it’s revealed that the entire thing was staged by Maher to win the favor of Safra and be a hero — Safra was never even intended to die. Absurd enough as it is, that’s still not the end of the story.
There Are Conspiracy Theories and Twists to Make You Question Everything
A fascinating and twisted murder of one of the world’s elite is a salacious bit of true crime intrigue on its own, but even though the perpetrator fessed up to the crime, that doesn’t stop voyeuristic true crime junkies from digging into alternate theories. Even though we know whodunit, do we really know who actually committed the crime? Thus, the death of Edmond Safra is mired in questions regarding those pesky connections to the Russian mafia that he betrayed. Or maybe it was his wife? Or his shady business dealings? Or was Maher’s plan really all it seemed to be?
In the end, Murder in Monaco provides one of the best types of conclusions to a true crime documentary: a conclusion that keeps you guessing. While it otherwise seems like everything surrounding Safra’s death has been wrapped neatly in a bow, you can’t help but consider the questions and loose threads that remain. Plus, the movie features some shocking recent developments regarding Maher towards the end of the documentary that bring the Safra saga all the way up to the present day.
The Talking Heads Are Eccentric and Entertaining
Even though Murder in Monaco is more or less your standard talking head-type documentary, that doesn’t mean that those talking heads aren’t uniquely interesting to watch. Murder in Monaco features a truly eclectic cast of characters that feel too absurd to be real (kind of like the very crime at the center of the documentary). Interviews include a daffy aristocrat named Lady Colin Campbell, Safra’s shady banking liaison Bill Browder and some shifty lawyers.
Of course, the real meat of the documentary comes in the form of interviews with Ted Maher himself, in addition to those with his prison cellmate, Luigi, who seems to enjoy smoking cigarettes in a very melodramatic fashion. A lot of the time, a good documentary is only as good as its subjects, and thankfully, Murder in Monaco doesn’t just have a compelling story, but a host of fascinating players involved.
Stream Murder in Monaco now on Netflix.
