Great new product!
Sport24 film reviewer Elizaveta Kazakova watched the first episodes of the crime drama about life at the turn of the century. By: Slava Kopeikin, Makar Khlebnikov, Victoria Isakova. I will tell you why the project from the creators of “Fisher” will not reach the hit level.
“Children of Change” (TV series, 2024)
Sort of: drama, crime.
Director: Sergei Taramaev, Lyubov Lvova.
Actors: Slava Kopeikin, Makar Khlebnikov, Khetag Khinchagov, Victoria Isakova, Lev Zulkarnaev and others.
Where to watch: Start, Play.
Flora (Victoria Isakova) goes through the streets of the city, works as a tram driver, and runs between adult children with different characters. Petya (Slava Kopeikin) is a secret agent for a local crime boss (Timofey Tribuntsev), hates “cops” and is waiting for his father to return from prison. Freelance artist Yura draws posters, thinks about beauty and makes friends with his brother’s archenemies. The youngest, Ruslanchik (Khetag Khinchagov), skips school to sell Chinese mixers and irons to factory workers and housewives.
In difficult times, each hero spins around as best they can and tries to find their way, pushing through bandits, merchants and authorities.
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Right before our eyes, the main film trend of the year began to slowly disappear – youth drama in the scenes of the 90s. Remember the hype created by the series “The Boy’s Word” around itself, which has literally become popular. But cultural nostalgia disappeared quickly, and people were not satisfied with the spirit of change. Not all domestic filmmakers have been able to jump into the latter bandwagon.
“Children of Change” is a good example of a project that was a little late in its release.
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Sergei Taramaev and Lyubov Lvova had every opportunity to repeat the great success of Zhora Kryzhovnikov, who, by the way, was one of the creative producers. Among the cast we also see many familiar faces from A Boy’s Word. The main role was played by Slava Kopeikin, who was very popular in the role of the bully Turbo. Gang fights, period features, family drama – wasn’t success guaranteed? It turns out not.
“Children of Change” is like a hodgepodge of the best parts of its predecessors. We saw all this in “Brother”, “Brigade”, “Blind Man’s Bluff”, “Bull” and, of course, “The Boy’s Word”. Unfortunately, it does not feel a drop of originality and soul inherent in the above projects.
The idea of showing the 90s without romance and decoration was also not original. They were a month ahead of “Dashing”, where the lives of the main characters in the same years felt like a living hell. Even the cruel ending of the second episode does not reach the level of blood in the series with Yuri Bykov.
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However, all the shortcomings can be forgiven thanks to the interesting stories and lively ensemble cast. The casting in the project deserves the highest praise: Timofey Tribuntsev in the image of a psychopathic authority figure, charismatic but lost Petya played by Slava Kopeikin, and Victoria Isakova became very accustomed to the role of strong Flora and hopeful.
It is too early to bury the series as guilty brothers after two episodes. A movie fan’s instinct tells us: “Children of Change” needs time to accelerate and express itself strongly.
How does the portrayal of nostalgia in “Children of Change” contribute to or detract from the overall effectiveness of the narrative?
## Open-Ended Questions for “Children of Change” Discussion
This article provides a critical review of the TV series “Children of Change.” Let’s explore the key themes and encourage discussion with these open-ended questions:
**Theme 1: Nostalgia and Originality**
* The article compares “Children of Change” to other popular 90s-themed series. Do you think the series successfully distinguishes itself, or does it feel like a rehash of familiar tropes?
* Does the goal of depicting the 90s without romanticization contribute positively or negatively to the series’ authenticity?
**Theme 2: The Evolution of the Genre**
* “The Boy’s Word” sparked significant cultural nostalgia. Do you think viewers are still craving this type of storytelling, or are they looking for something new?
* How has the portrayal of youth drama evolved since the 90s? What elements do viewers connect with most in contemporary iterations?
**Theme 3: Cast and Performance**
* Even with some narrative shortcomings, the article praises the casting and acting in “Children of Change.” Which characters resonated with you the most, and why?
* How important is a strong cast in elevating a script that might lack originality?
**Theme 4: Overall Impact and Future Potential**
* Despite its flaws, the reviewer suggests ”Children of Change” deserves more time to develop. What are your expectations for the remaining episodes?
* Do you think the series has the potential to become a critical success despite its current shortcomings?
**Thematic Sections for Deeper Discussion:**
1. **Setting the Stage:** Discuss the context of the 90s resurgence in television and film. What draws viewers to this era?
2. **Comparing and Contrasting:** Analyze the similarities and differences between “Children of Change” and other successful youth dramas set in the 90s.
3. **The Power of Performance:** Deep dive into the performances of the actors, exploring their portrayal of complex characters and the dynamics within the ensemble cast.
4. **Looking Ahead:**
Speculate on the future direction of “Children of Change,” considering the themes addressed and the potential storyline arcs.
These open-ended questions and thematic sections encourage a nuanced conversation about “Children of Change,” hindering a tendency to simply agree or disagree with the review. They provoke thought and exploration of the series’ complexities.
