"Angels of the District" is a Russian comedy melodrama produced by Star Media, directed by Eduard Parri and released in 2024. The lead roles were played by Anna Mikhalkova and Alexander Robak. The series consists of eight episodes and is set in Nizhny Novgorod: most of the location filming took place in the city and in Dzerzhinsk.[1][2]

About the Series

The series follows the Shatalov family, who live in one of the old neighborhoods of Nizhny Novgorod. Alyona Shatalova (Anna Mikhalkova) heads the management company that services their neighborhood; her husband Mikhail (Alexander Robak) works as a district doctor at the local clinic, and their son Artyom (Vadim Sosnin) serves as a district police officer. The family takes on the problems of the entire district until its own troubles reach a critical point.[3][2] A further complication is introduced by a suddenly appearing neighbor, Ivan Perevozkin (Fyodor Lavrov), who has returned after twenty years away and lays claim to his room in a communal apartment.[3]

The series was made by the film company Star Media on commission from the online streaming service Ivi and the TV channel Russia-1.[2] The director is Eduard Parri ("Awakening," "Once Upon a Time There Lived," "Island of Unwanted People"), the screenwriter is Maxim Belozor, and the cinematographer is Ilya Melikhov.[2] Belozor pitched the idea for the series to Parri back in 2018; the director initially declined but returned to the project later.[2] The producers are Eduard Aliev, Olga Volodina, and Elena Kotunova. In addition to the lead actors, the cast includes Anatoly Kot, Alexander Pankratov-Cherny, Fyodor Lavrov, Vadim Sosnin, Seydulla Moldakhanov, Ulyana Moldovanova, Evelina Mazurina, and Dmitry Kolchin.[4][5]

Filming in Nizhny Novgorod

Filming took place in Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow; according to Cyclopedia and Kino-Teatr.Ru, the on-location portion in Nizhny Novgorod began in the summer of 2022. NewsRoom24 and Nizhegorodskaya Pravda also point to 2022, whereas Kino-Teatr.Ru dates the series to a 2023 release.[1][6][4][2] Several streets in the city were partially closed for filming.[1] The crew subsequently moved to Dzerzhinsk.[1]

Nizhny Novgorod filming locations of the series:

Release and Reception

The trailer for the series was released on February 28, 2024.[2] The premiere on the online streaming platform Ivi took place on March 5, 2024; all eight episodes became available at the same time.[2][1] Broadcasting on the TV channel Russia-1 began on April 22, 2024.[2][3]

On Ivi the series received a rating of 8.5, and on Kinopoisk, 7.8.[5] Viewers from Nizhny Novgorod particularly noted the recognizability of the city's landscapes.[5]

Sources

  1. Newsroom24 — Famous Places of Nizhny Novgorod Featured in the Series "Angels of the District"
  2. cyclowiki.org — Angels of the District — Cyclopedia
  3. tvmag.ru — Angels of the District, 2023 series (Russia 1): premiere, 8 episodes, plot details, cast, announcement, photos, when to watch
  4. spec.kino-teatr.ru — 8 Dobrolyubov Street in the Series "Angels of the District"
  5. ivi.tv — Series Angels of the District: description, trailers, contents, interesting facts, and much more about the series
  6. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — Life Like in the Movies: Traveling Along the Map of Nizhny Novgorod's Interesting Film Locations (October 7, 2022)
  7. ivi.ru — Series Angels of the District: description, trailers, contents, interesting facts, and much more about the series
  8. web.archive.org — Angels of the District (2024 series) watch online in good quality (archive)