The beginning of the new year on Russian television is traditionally accompanied by unpretentious and emphatically positive content., which is designed to bring the viewer out of the post-holiday state and emotional decline. This is one of the natural functions of the entertainment industry., and sometimes quite entertaining samples come across in it.
The STS channel recently launched a comedy sitcom by Mikhail Solovyov and Sergei Znamensky "Family", which, in terms of plot and mood, resembles Voronina's projects, "Happy Together" or "Ivanov-Ivanov". The concept can be described as light, extremely unpretentious and in places elevated to absurdity. Still, a family movie should inspire special trust in the viewer., because it is at home, with loved ones, we become ourselves, throwing off the masks intended for the outside world.
In the center of the plot of "The Family" is the work of a couple experiencing a midlife crisis with a psychologist. At first glance it may seem, that the heroes invent difficulties for themselves out of the blue: they are financially well off, they have children, no serious health problems and adventures on the side (at least, according to the first episode). In addition, the services of a psychologist are not cheap., and most likely that is why in Russia they are resorted to quite rarely. Any internal crisis and even depression, worldwide considered a disease, we are often regarded as "nonsense" and "whim".
Situations from the life of spouses, played by Boris Dergachev and Olga Dibtseva, look funny harmless. The first episode begins with a romantic candlelit dinner., and then it turns out, that the house just cut off the electricity. And as soon as it appears, husband runs to watch football. kind of, a trifle compared to the lack of money, alcoholism or domestic violence, but worth imagining, something like this happens regularly (and the marriage has been going on for seventeen years), - and you begin to understand, why do heroes seek help from a specialist. Moreover, this decision means, that they still want to save the family and for them, not everything is lost.
Psychologist at first, played by Vadim Demchog, looks more like an extra, although later his role may become more significant. In the meantime, viewers are simply introduced to the course of events., who brought clients to him.
One of the problems is the transitional age in children. (and there are three of them) and the "charms" accompanying this period. Notably, that the father of the family, with coarse humor, divides his daughters into "beautiful" and "wise".
There is also a conflict with the older generation represented by the mother-in-law, played by the charismatic Tatyana Orlova. kind of, she has no open enmity with her daughter-in-law, but she sows discord between her and her grandchildren, acting as a "grandmother-holiday". Here, any mother can easily understand the main character: she would be happy to pamper children (and yourself at the same time), but at the same time, she is responsible for their upbringing. Grandma has no such obligations, and her behavior can be regarded as a provocation.
Not without economic controversy, in which the husband behaves very infantile, trying to "save" on expired products and buying expensive "toys", supposed to help you start your business.
Even with caution, the authors of the series touch on the topic of intimate relationships, which are significantly worsened by, that spouses perceive each other as relatives - removing acne or talking about repairs in rare moments of solitude, of course, bring passion to nothing.
Surely many viewers of middle age and prosperity will recognize themselves in the heroes, who cannot shift routine duties to “servants” and devote time to themselves and loved ones, find leisure besides watching TV or “sticking” on the phone. The actors themselves talk about it.. Boris Dergachev, eg, He stated, that the series can help you look at yourself from the outside, sort out life, understand, why you shouldn't fight: “I want to show my hero as a man, who, with the help of a psychologist, families, children, love and humor trying to cope with all difficulties". Olga Dibtseva, in turn, shared her own experience of communicating with a psychologist: “Psychology has turned my life around., helped me find myself. And I think, don't be it, Now I wouldn't have such a career, no family. I continue to work with a psychologist, but not so often, like before. Sometimes I have questions, Therefore, I periodically work them out with specialists”.
certainly, the, who basically does not like "light" genres, "Family" will seem like a waste of time. But for fans of this format, mature heroes, the series might open up something new, and not in a mentoring form, and in friendly communication on an equal footing. And that's already pretty good..
Lyudmila Semenova
