NTV’s suspenseful drama Fatherland, based on Aleksandr Terekhov’s bestselling novel Germans, is one of the top drama series from the distributor being highlighted at LA Virtual Screenings these weeks. The series will be launched online on the new VOD platform KION.
The drama, which been selected for the First Episode, Take Two sidebar of the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival among other shows from Russia, Canada, France, Norway, Denmark, Brazil, Sweden, Israel, and Spain,was produced by Russian World Studios.
Fatherland is NTV’s second show, after Caged, to be released in two versions at once, one for the Internet, the other for linear TV. ‘It has been clear from the start that a screen adaptation of that novel required a unique approach – the ability to tell it like it is, openly and plainly’, indicated NTV General Producer Timur Weinstein.
The dark and dramatic series exploring all shades of grey in a fractious modern world is adapted from the award-winning novel ‘Germans’ by prominent Russian writer Aleksandr Terekhov. Anton Ebergard, a journalist famous for his cutting exposés of crooked public officials, falls on hard times and goes against his convictions to become a publicity officer at the city council. Entering the office, the former journalist starts sinking into the dark underworld of off-the-books deals and ruthless subterfuge, losing his friends and loved ones. In the end, he becomes one of the people he has spent half of his life fighting.
‘It’s a miracle that a TV show about corruption, environment and a man of principle has cut through all these endless stories about serial killers and such. I’d like to thank our producers and, of course, Stas Ivanov, a director who works like no one else. He’s genuine, complex, brutally honest, but there’s also a kind of waltz-like lightness to his touch. Before we started shooting, he and I spent a lot of time just talking. Few directors get their actors as involved in the creation of a shared vision. I think we succeeded in it, and I’m very pleased and honored that our brainchild has struck a chord with the Moscow Film Festival experts. Now I’m looking forward to hearing what the audience will say. We’ll soon find out if they enjoy the story of Ebergard’s descent into hell, with all its fireworks, larger-than-life satire, and other bells and whistles’, added the show’s star Evgeny Koryakovsky.
‘I think our director Stas Ivanov has considerably reworked the plot and made it his own. We were all in it together throughout the production and even afterwards, spending time together, discussing things, getting to know each other. Each one of us knew what note to hit in that ensemble. Koryakovsky, of course, shouldered most of the load, and he gave this part his all. I’m very happy that our show has been selected for MIFF. I happen to be very fond of this festival, so I’m twice as happy for our behind-the-camera talent, actors, and everyone else involved’, concluded actress Darya Ursulyak.
