To the Lake
To the Lake (Russian: Эпидемия, lit. 'Epidemic'), is a Russian web television series. It first premiered on the Russian platform Premier on November 14, 2019.[2] Netflix acquired the series and it was released internationally on October 8, 2020. The series is based on Vongozero (2011), the debut novel of the Russian writer Yana Vagner.[3]
| To the Lake | |
|---|---|
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| Russian | Эпидемия |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Based on | Vongozero by Yana Vagner |
| Directed by | Pavel Kostomarov |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Original language | Russian |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Production company | 1-2-3 Production[1] |
| Distributor | Netflix (international) |
| Release | |
| Original network | Premier |
| Original release | November 14, 2019 |
| External links | |
| Netflix | |
Plot
Residents of Moscow are infected with an unknown deadly virus, the main symptoms of which are coughing and discoloration of the eyes, and after three to four days, death occurs. Nobody knows how to resist infection. The capital of the country is covered by an epidemic, gradually turning it into a city of the dead: there is no electricity, money has lost its value, chaos and lawlessness reign everywhere and gangs of marauders are gathering, the media are panicking, and those who are not yet infected are desperately fighting for food and gasoline. The city is being quarantined; all entrances to it are closed.
Fleeing from the epidemic, Sergei, along with his new lover, her autistic son, his own son, his ex-wife who could not forgive him, his father and the neighbors who joined them, go to Karelia. There, on a desert island in the middle of Vongozero, they want to hide from the threat of contamination in a refuge ship.
Against the background of a terrible global catastrophe, a cruel family drama is also played out. People who normally would never have been under the same roof must now unite to try to escape the growing epidemic. On the way, they will not only face various dangers, but also overcome family troubles, learn not only to survive, but also to forgive.
Cast
- Viktoriya Isakova as Anna
- Kirill Käro as Sergey
- Aleksandr Robak as Lyonya
- Natalya Zemtsova as Marina
- Maryana Spivak as Irina
- Yuri Kuznetsov as Boris Mikhailovich
- Eldar Kalimulin as Misha
- Viktoriya Agalakova as Polina
- Aleksandr Yatsenko as Pavel
- Saveliy Kudryashov as Anton
Production
Filming took place in 2018 in Moscow, the Moscow region and the Arkhangelsk region (in Onega and the village of Malozhma, Onezhsky District). Vongozero portrayed the Onega Bay.[4] After its release in Russia, Netflix bought the rights to the series for $1.5 million, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant.[5]
During a November 2020 interview,[6] actress Viktoriya Agalakova commented on the show's positive international reception on Netflix: "I am extremely glad that the foreign audience liked our project. We made it with love, and therefore we are very pleased that people enjoy watching it – after all, that is what we worked for. Many foreigners write to me; they leave detailed reviews about our project – and, honestly, it is incredible, and it’s hard to believe."
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor | 14 November 2019 | |
| As a contagious illness, panic and looting ravages Moscow, a thrown-together band of families and neighbors forms a shaky alliance for survival. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor | 21 November 2019 | |
| The group's frantic escape is disrupted by a costly mistake and human threats. Karma acts quickly after a betrayal, and a final destination is chosen. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, "featuring" Alexey Karaulov | 28 November 2019 | |
| Sparks fly between Polina and Misha. A brutal attacks puts a life at risk. Some shelter in the storm is shaken by a horrifying discovery. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, "featuring" Alexey Karaulov | 5 December 2019 | |
| Strangers, both kind and cruel, change the journey's course, and romance blooms in unexpected places. An angry mob causes chaos and a tragic mistake. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, "featuring" Alexey Karaulov | 12 December 2019 | |
| Discovering someone missing, the caravan doubles back and comes upon a good samaritan...and some horrifying children. The disease reaches the group. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, Alexey Karaulov | 20 December 2019 | |
| An infection leads to a house divided, and line is crossed by Ira and Sergey. Flashbacks reveal pain in Sergey, Polina and Marina's past. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, "featuring" Alexey Karaulov | 27 December 2019 | |
| After Boris prays, a blessing arrives - along with more heartbreak. Ira and Sergey struggle with their secret. Safe havens prove anything but. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Episode 8" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor | 3 January 2020 | |
| Marriage vows make new beginnings. Ira exposes damning secrets from Anna's diary. Pavel grapels with hard choices. A happy reunion is short-lived. | ||||||
Controversy
The fifth episode disappeared from Premier's platform on 14 December 2019, just two days after its release. In the episode, hospital patients and other civilians are executed by men who appear to be security forces, prompting speculation that the episode had been censored. However, the company said the second half of the season was postponed until February 2020 due to the success of another series, Policeman from Rublyovka (Полицейский с Рублевки), and that the fifth episode was part of the second half. Director Pavel Kostomarov said the episode's removal came as a surprise and that he was not given a reason.[7][8]
Less than a week later, on 20 December, the fifth episode reappeared on Premier's platform, along with the sixth episode. At the beginning of the sixth episode, an announcer on the radio reports that illegal armed groups are trying to seize power, and that they're pretending to be security forces to round up civilians under the pretext of evacuation before killing them. Kostomarov, however, said "not a single frame" had been changed to get the series back on Premier.[9][10] Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky denied media reports that he was involved in the controversy, saying "there is no censorship in our country" and that the episode's removal was of a "technical nature." Premier said the season would continue to air weekly until its conclusion at the request of viewers.[11]
References
- Radulovic, Petrana (October 1, 2020). "Every movie and show coming to Netflix in October". Polygon.
- "Онлайн-платформа PREMIER выпустила трейлер к сериалу "Эпидемия"". REGNUM News Agency.
- "Яна Вагнер: писать роман "Вонгозеро" было очень страшно". RIA Novosti (in Russian).
- "Мороз -26 градусов, потоп и дикие животные вокруг: сериал "Эпидемия" снимали в суровых условиях". teleprogramma.pro.
- Netflix разогнал «Эпидемию»
- Regev, Nir (November 15, 2020). "Viktoriya Agalakova Interview: 'To the Lake' on Netflix". The Natural Aristocrat. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- Inc, TV Rain (December 14, 2019). "Онлайн-кинотеатр Premier удалил серию "Эпидемии" Павла Костомарова про беспорядки и приостановил показ до февраля". tvrain.ru.
- "Онлайн-кинотеатр Premier удалил эпизод сериала "Эпидемия" о беспорядках". Ведомости.
- «Медуза» выяснила, что Мединский помог вернуть на экраны сериал «Эпидемия»
- "Режиссер "Эпидемии" пообещал, что сериал будет показан без купюр". Газета.Ru.
- "Ìåäèíñêèé îòâåðã ïðè÷àñòíîñòü ê âîçâðàùåíèþ íà ýêðàíû ñåðèàëà "Ýïèäåìèÿ"". Interfax.ru.
External links
- To the Lake on Netflix
- To the Lake at IMDb
