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Volha (TV series)

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Volha
GenreComedy, Drama
Written byJan Pachl, Karel Hynie
Directed byJan Pachl [cs]
StarringKryštof Hádek, Tomáš Jeřábek, Aňa Geislerová
Country of originCzech Republic
Original languageCzech
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes5
Production
ProducerJosef Viewegh
Running time75-76 minutes
Original release
NetworkČT1
Release2 April (2 April 2023) –
30 April 2023 (30 April 2023)

Volha (Volga) is a comedy-drama television series directed by Jan Pachl [cs]. It is based on a book by Karel Hynie called Volha – záznam o provozu motorového vozidla.[1][2] It starts broadcast on 2 April 2023. The series follows a Czechoslovak television chauffeur Standa Pekárek from 1970s to 1990s. It was filmed to celebrate 70th anniversary of television broadcast in the Czech Republic.[3]

Plot

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Communist Czechoslovakia in 1971. Standa Pekárek finishes his compulsory military service and became a chauffeur at Czechoslovak television. He dreams about getting his own Volha, driving for the humor and folk entertainment editorial office and driving Karel Gott. He is willing to do anything to fulfill his dream and thus he agrees to collaborate with State Security under codename Volha.[4]

Cast

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Episodes

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No. in
series
Title Directed by Written by Original air date Czech viewers
(millions)
1"FOXTERIÉRY"Jan PachlJan Pachl, Karel HynieApril 2, 2023 (2023-04-02)1.267[5]
Year 1971. Stanislav Pekárek, a recent graduate of military basic service, starts as a driver of the Czech Railways. Soon, he rubs off and sets out for the first exterior filming, where he gets an overview of the opinions and functioning of the artistic "collective", as well as the principles of the socialist economy. The subsequent falsification of petrol coupons becomes fatal for him. State security has a hook on him and Pekárek signs cooperation. It also has its advantages, the dream of a Volga car is within reach.
2"HULIZA"Jan PachlJan Pachl, Karel HynieApril 9, 2023 (2023-04-09)0.936[6]
Normalization. At the intercession of the higher ups, Pekárek is assigned a Volga car and joins the humor and popular entertainment editorial office. In the whirlwind of television shows, sexual adventures and accumulating financial bonuses, he seemed to forget not only his family, but also his Faustian fate. Lax cooperation with StB is not acceptable to him, so he has to toughen up. He cautiously begins to introduce his co-workers. But even he is not left without a shell and is demoted to a porter. It is clear to him that he will only get back in the saddle if he sacrifices someone. Director Válová is first in line. Standa has his own excuse: "They're all idiots anyway, who only exalt themselves over us workers."
3"TEL-EVÍZE"Jan PachlJan Pachl, Karel HynieApril 16, 2023 (2023-04-16)1.161[7]
The drivers of the Socialist Labor Brigade set up a truck operation with the goal of going to the hockey world championship in Vienna. In the exteriors, Standa Pekárek meets his future wife, soon they are expecting a child and move to a new apartment. Standa is doing great, but it's not free. His next victim is the director Truhlář, for whom his great passion becomes fatal.
4"MAESTRO"Jan PachlJan Pachl, Karel HynieApril 23, 2023 (2023-04-23)1.153[8]
It's the golden eighties, the period of Spartakiad. The baker is happy, passing the Soviet soldiers with color televisions and finally Karel Gott gets into his car. Standa is "king". Little does he know that he has made a powerful enemy. The vision of a trip to the championship in Vienna is suddenly gone. Although the anti-state activities of the producer Horáček are taking place outside Pekárek's field of vision, Standa is already dangerously close.
5"BALBA"Jan PachlJan Pachl, Karel HynieApril 30, 2023 (2023-04-30)0.923[9]
Pekárek's first trip to the West. Digitals, crashers and Viennese Mexico Square. But even there they have to fulfill the tasks of the StB. Somewhere between the filming of the programs Sejdeme se na Vlachovce and the reportage from JZD Slušovice, a fundamental upheaval will occur. Gradually his mother, son and second wife leave him. Revolution. State security operatives change their coats and agent Volha is suddenly indispensable. But even for him, the company has a new application. Three cars, two color televisions and a stable job can't be a loss. As Standa says, "Who has this?"

Reception

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The series won 5 awards at 2023 Czech Lion Awards in categories Best Actor in Leading Role (for Kryštof Hádek), Best Supporting Actor (for Tomáš Jeřábek), Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design and Best TV Series.[10] Along with Restore Point it was the most successful 2023 project according to number of won categories.[11] Volha was the first television series to win the most categories at Czech Lion Awards.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ Urbanová, Jana (9 November 2021). "Hádek, Holubová a Klepl natáčeli v Písku, podívejte se do zákulisí". Táborský deník (in Czech). Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  2. ^ Spáčilová, Mirka (1 November 2021). "Donášel, jen aby mohl vozit Gotta. Točí se tragikomedie Volha". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Minisérie Volha z normalizační televize zahájí 2. dubna na ČT". MediaGuru.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Volha Presskit" (PDF). Czech Television. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Seriál Volha zahájil jako jednička nedělního dne". MediaGuru.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Odznak Vysočina se vrátil na pozici nedělní jedničky". MediaGuru.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Neděle pro seriály Odznak Vysočina a Volha, oba nad milionem". MediaGuru.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Odznak Vysočina nedělní jedničkou, nad milionem i Volha". MediaGuru.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Volha nedělní jedničkou, zahájily Případy mimořádné Marty". MediaGuru.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  10. ^ Zavřelová, Monika (9 March 2024). "Volha ovládla České lvy. Herecké ceny mají Kryštof Hádek a Simona Peková". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  11. ^ Rozšafný, Milan. "České lvy ovládla minisérie Volha a Bod obnovy. Nejlepším filmem se stali Bratři". kinobox.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  12. ^ Spáčilová, Mirka (10 March 2024). "GLOSA: Výjimka, či průlom? Filmové ceny poprvé ovládl televizní seriál". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  13. ^ Kabát, Marcel (10 March 2024). "České lvy unesla televize, velký vítězem udělování výročních cen byl seriál Volha | Názory". Lidovky.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 10 March 2024.
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