Moskovskaya saga

In 2004, when this TV saga (22 episodes) was released on Russia's 1Channel, it seemed a recipe for success - huge epic drama, in the best traditions of old Soviet dramas, the center of narration is around the large family, The Gradovs, several generations, among whom there are doctors, military officers, politicians, writers and athletes, and all that is in relief against almost 50 years od USSR history, from 1925 to 1970's. The casting was also seemingly excellent, with many great Russian actors taking part, so what could go wrong? IN 2004, the Saga looked fresh and captivating, 14 years later, it seems trite, slow, banal, shallow, poorly performed and very cheaply sold. The whole film was shot very fast so this shows very evidently - the plot seems rushed, and dialog laughable at times, and the whole political background - well, rather cheap. It can be watched once as a curio, and then dismissed.