In 2015, the multi-series Russian-Ukrainian project “The Red Queen” was released, becoming a significant event for all viewers. What was his uniqueness, what is he talking about and who played the main roles? Let's find the answers to all these questions, as well as look at the audience reviews on the TV series “The Red Queen”.
Format
This television project was produced by the Ukrainian film company FILM.UA Group, which had previously presented viewers with such successful series as Sniffer, Female Doctor, Return Vera, as well as feature films Battle for Sevastopol, Watchtower, and Stolen Princess: Ruslan and Lyudmila. " On the Russian side, the Red Queen was engaged in the film company Shpil from St. Petersburg.
The format of the project is a television series of 12 episodes. Each for 52 minutes.
The genre of the series "The Red Queen" is a historical melodrama, biopic.
He appeared on Ukrainian television in the fall of 2015 (Inter), and on Russian in the spring of 2016 (Channel One).
Plot
The series "The Red Queen" tells about the fate of Zoe Kolesnikova, the daughter of a provincial cleaning lady and a drinking veteran of the Second World War, who was destined to become the prima donna of the Soviet podium.
At 16, the girl actually becomes an orphan. Protecting mother from the beating of a drunken father, she accidentally kills him. Her mother takes the blame and goes to jail. Because of this "shame," Zoya's excellent pupil is deprived of her medal, all her friends turn away from her.
Kolesnikova does not give up and goes to study in Moscow, changing her name to Regina so that no one will know about her past.
In the capital of the USSR, she accidentally met with Augusta Florinsky - an intelligent old woman "from the former." A woman teaches a girl mind, manners and French. She also presents her wedding dress, sewn by the legendary craftswoman, who before the revolution dressed women of the Romanov family. The main gift from Florinsky is getting to know her grandson Volodya. Young people fall in love with each other, and although they are not destined to be together, they carry this feeling through the years.
While studying at a Moscow university, Regina is trying to "join" the environment of the young metropolitan elite. However, she does not succeed. All attempts not only end in failure, but also bring a lot of trouble, including with the law.
After another such “failure”, Kolesnikova met Vera Aralova, the fashion designer of the Moscow Fashion House. Preparing to soon introduce the Soviet collection of clothes in Europe, the woman understands that, in addition to bright outfits, it is necessary to choose models with a European appearance. Regina meets these requirements, which Aralova invites to work as a fashion model.
The historical basis of the television project
The fate of the "Red Queen" was largely borrowed from the famous Soviet model Regina Zbarskaya. And although most of the events of the series are far from historical truth, the storyline was precisely the life of the first beauty of the USSR, who conquered Europe.
In addition to Zbarskaya, other historical figures are interpreted in the Red Queen: Nikita Khrushchev, the bohemian artist Lev Zbarsky, Mayakovsky’s aged lover - Lilya Brik, fashion designer Vyacheslav Zaitsev.
Although the series is more artistic than historical, its creators sought maximum reliability. And not only things and interiors, but also the spirit of that beautiful and terrible era.
The main characters of the series "Red Queen"
In the center of the plot is Zoya-Regina Kolesnikova, who came to conquer Moscow and became her “Queen”. Showing the events of her life from 16 to 35 years.
According to the plot, the fashion model had only two men whom she truly loved: the bohemian handsome Lev-Felix Barsky and the KGB officer Vladimir Lavrov.
In addition to Regina, the series tells in more detail about the fate of her other colleagues in the workshop - careerist Lily Maslakaeva, who is ready for anything for the sake of advancement in the career ladder and has achieved her goal. And also about Marina Dunaeva, who was in love with a foreigner, driven to the despair of the KGB and committed suicide.
Among other heroes is a talented fashion designer Vera Aralova and the near-by, but also devoted to her job, personnel department manager Kaleria Kuzminichna. In contrast, unskilled careerists Nikolai Rogalsky (director of the Mod House) and Tikhon Kondratievich (official).
An important place in the plot is occupied by Augusta Leontyevna Florinskaya, who becomes Zoey’s mentor and turns her into a real “Queen”.
Cast
The main role in the project was played by St. Petersburg actress Ksenia Lukyanchikova ("Wasp Nest", "Wings of the Empire").
Her lovers were played in the series “The Red Queen” by actors Artem Tkachenko (Cinderella, Swordsman) and Anatoly Rudenko (Dear Masha Berezina, Redhead).
The role of mentor Regina went to the legend of Soviet and Ukrainian cinema - Ada Rogovtseva ("Eternal Call", "I Love My Husband").
Other actors in the series “The Red Queen” are Elena Morozova, Tatyana Orlova, Yanina Studilina, Anna Sagaidachnaya, Natalya Vysochanskaya, Galina Petrova, Valery Barinov, Boris Scherbakov, Olesya Puhova, Sofya Pilman.
Film crew
The success of the project is largely due to the preparatory work of its creators.
Scriptwriters Elena Boyko and Maria Beck undertook to adapt the fate of Regina Barskaya. The director of the project was also a woman - Alena Semenova (Rainer). Perhaps that is why he turned out to be so soulful, despite all the tragedy.
The entire staff of fashion designers working on the creation of outfits was led by costume designer Gala Otenko.
Interesting facts about the "Red Queen"
- This series was far from the first dedicated to the fate of Soviet models, including Regina Zbarskaya. The year before, the Russian film company Amalgama studio released a four-part "Model" with Anna Mikhailovskaya in the title role.
- In parallel with the release of the Red Queen series on Ukrainian Inter in 2015, the Queen of Beauty film with Karina Andolenko in the title role, also consisting of 12 episodes, was shown on the Russia-1 television channel.
- Preparation for the shooting took a lot of time. More than 300 costumes were made for the series. Only the main character appears in 160 outfits. While other beauties have about 30. 40 designers worked on the development of models of all the costumes and their sewing. Not only the style of clothing itself was copied, but also shoes, corsets, underwear of that era (50-60 years). For authenticity, even the actress's stockings were silk. The most expensive and sophisticated outfit was a wedding dress given to Regina by her mentor. It was manually embroidered for a month and a half by four specialists.
- For the singer, the main roles in this project were the first in her career. Ksenia accidentally saw in the corridor of one of the acting universities of St. Petersburg, the director of the series "The Red Queen" Alena Semenova. Prior to Lukyanchikova, several hundred actresses and models from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Serbia and Belarus claimed the role of the Queen. However, the creators of the project were looking not only for a good and beautiful performer, but also for a character suitable for that era.
- To work in the series, Xenia had to lose 15 kg. And she did it in just a month. But this was not enough. During the filming of the model period of the heroine, the actress had to wear a corset. Her waist was pulled 12 cm! So for 8 months of filming, 4 corsets were worn out.
- The performer of the leading role did not speak in her own voice. She was duplicated by another artist - Elena Kalinina.
- There is a misconception that the main song of the series "My Dear" is sung by Zemfira. And although the voice and manner of performance are very similar, in reality this is not so. The performer is Olga Sanina.
Where did the shooting take place?
Many viewers in their reviews and reviews of the series "The Red Queen" noted the beautiful views that he remembered. In particular, Paris and Moscow. This was a pleasant touch of freshness, as opposed to the familiar shooting on a green screen. In the comments, people often asked about where these elegant streets or romantic Moscow landscapes not touched by the ubiquitous advertising platitude are located in France.
What a surprise it was when it turned out that almost every place of filming in the series "The Red Queen" is not at all where it should have been.
For example, most of the Moscow scenes were filmed in a pavilion or ... in Minsk.
And the role of Paris was “played” by the Lions. By the way, this is not the first such "transformation". So, the cult project "D 'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers" was also filmed there.
In addition to these cities, other scenes were made in St. Petersburg, Brest, Samarkand and Kiev.
How did you meet the "Red Queen"?
Despite the existence of two more projects about Soviet fashion models (released in the same period), viewers in their reviews of the TV series “Red Queen” rate it higher than the rest. Calling not only more dramatic and stylish, but also "the best of the films in this category." The series is considered more believable and sincere. And the main character, despite her controversial character, is worthy of respect and understanding.
In reviews of the Red Queen series on Kinopoisk and other resources, it is often said that Regina, although far from ideal, causes sympathy, a desire to empathize with. And to a greater extent than Ekaterina Panova ("Queen of Beauty") and Alexandra Linkova ("Fashion Model"). Perhaps this is due to a well-written image, in particular, motivation.
The success of the series is evidenced by a large number of positive audience reviews, as well as a project rating of 7.594 (Kinopoisk). While at the “Queen of Beauty” he is 7.311, and at the “Fashion Model” - 6.987.