Herec

If you have the chance to watch this Tjech miniseries, please do. It is not al all like any American of Netflix series. This is history being told in a classic and cinematic way. I made me think of the Oscar winning movie The Pianist, by Roman Polanski, also set in East Europe.

The story is set in early communist Czechoslovakia and shot in intriguing old buildings. Young actor Lanik (Jan Cina) plays a theatre actor on the rise. Communism has a tight and lethal grip on every part of society, and now they interfere with the arts. Lanik is forced to to spy on high profile men. With his angelic looks, intelligence and charm he goes on a mission.

All actors are great. The story really saddened me. Once again it becomes clear how inhuman and violent the communist party was and how impossible it was to stay out of their dirty games.

Watched on Channel 4's "Walter Presents" under the name "Actor". Perhaps that's why I am the first English-language review? Or perhaps I am the only English-speaking person to have seen it?

Anyway, if you do manage to find it in the depths of the "Walter Presents" listings - this is a very good drama.

Jan Cina plays a would-be actor with a problematic family history in newly-Soviet Czechosolvakia, who gets intimately involved with some powerful men.

The first two episodes cover these affairs, while the third and final episode is about his attempt to get away.

Aside from being elegantly filmed and performed (both Cina and Jenovefa Bokova are excellent), the storyline is expertly crafted to take you on a journey full of tension, surprise and brutality. It really captures the claustrophobia of living in a country where everyone is watching you, and anyone could betray you.

My only criticism is that some characters who only appear briefly on screen are then referred to several times afterwards, and can be quite important in the development of the story - it can be hard to keep track of who is who. Probably my complete unfamiliarity with Czech (and Russian) makes it a bit harder to identify the minor characters.

This is a show that demands your full attention. And which will reward it.