Veteran Russian actor Mikhail Trukhin, known for a diverse range of roles across film and television, is set to appear in a new family comedy series. The interesting twist? At 53, he is taking on the significant role of a grandfather.
Joining him in portraying the family`s senior generation is actress Olesya Zheleznyak, cast as his character`s wife and the family matriarch. Like Trukhin, Zheleznyak might be considered relatively young for a typical grandmother role, which promises an interesting dynamic and comedic potential in their joint performance.
The premise of the series revolves around a large, multi-generational family sharing the confined space of a three-room apartment in Voronezh. This classic `housing question,` a persistent theme in Russian culture and a reliable source of both drama and humor, forms the core conflict of the narrative.
Trukhin`s character is depicted as a somewhat exaggerated figure: a man over fifty who adheres to traditional, arguably outdated, household principles reminiscent of `Domostroy,` and humorously, is a fan of the classic Russian crime series `Brigada.` Zheleznyak`s character, on the other hand, is portrayed as a vibrant, perhaps even eccentric, personality – described as a `shopping queen` from Voronezh. These contrasting grandparent figures are central to the family`s daily life and the comedic situations that arise.
Within the bustling apartment, the grandfather and grandmother characters are shown as typically grumbling figures who nonetheless constantly attempt to `assist` their adult children and numerous grandchildren. The storyline follows the intertwined lives and individual predicaments of the three generations under one roof. The older daughter navigates the complexities of a new romantic interest, her relationship with her ex-husband, and the challenges of parenting a demanding teenage daughter. Meanwhile, the younger daughter, along with her husband and children, suddenly moves into the already crowded parental home after their rural residence is destroyed by fire. The grandchildren, naturally, contend with their own adolescent concerns and developing romantic relationships.
Curiously, this project isn`t an isolated case for Mikhail Trukhin regarding family-centric stories set in shared living spaces. He is reportedly involved in another upcoming comedy with a similar theme of a large family cohabiting, although in that instance, he plays a father of many children rather than a grandfather. This overlap points to a potential trend in contemporary Russian television production, favoring comedies that explore the dynamics and conflicts inherent in large families squeezed into limited urban housing.
This focus on `communal apartment tragicomedies` appears to be gaining traction. Earlier this year, the series `Dear Relative` premiered, featuring well-known actors such as Anna Mikhalkova, Timofey Tribuntsev, and Ekaterina Vilkova, effectively portraying a family`s comical battle over real estate. Last year, Anna Mikhalkova also starred in `Angels of the District,` dealing with domestic upheaval caused by troublesome relatives vying for their share of an apartment. It seems the struggles and absurdities of shared living are proving to be fertile ground for television humor. One can only hope that the pool of talented actors and genuinely funny scripts is deep enough to sustain this trend.
