Uspjeh

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"Success" (2019 release; 6 episodes running about 55 min. each) is a TV mini-series. As Episode 1 opens, we see a guy addressing a crowd, apparently a life-style speaker of some sort. "I lost everything and then I met these 3 people", he tells us. We then go back in time and we are in "Central Zagreb", as we see various people getting ready for the new day. One of them is a housewife, and on her way to work, she gets stuck in a highway traffic jam and her car is struck from behind. What happens next will shock you... At this point we are 10 min. into Episode 1, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is a hard-hitting TV mini-series from Croatia, where the daily lives of 4 strangers (Kristijan, Blanka, Vinka and Haris) end up being intertwined in the most unexpected of ways. (Episode 1 concludes with the 4 strangers meeting each other for the first time--sorry, I can't/won't divulge any more so as not to spoil). News flash: this TV series reminds us once again that there is more than capable TV series being produced not just here in the US. Thank goodness for HBO which diversifies its line-up with such foreign TV shows (think also such other foreign TV series like "When Shall We Kiss", "My Brilliant Friend", etc.).

"Success" premiered on HBO last year. In the current coronavirus pandemic, I've been looking to catch up with TV series that I had missed when they first aired. I recently binge-watched all episodes on "Success" in short order on HBO On Demand. So glad I did. If you are in the mood for a hard-hitting TV mini-series with a foreign flavor, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

Finally a Croatian TV series worth watching. True level of corruption is portrayed. Love the cast and particularly choice of music. Pretty certain season two will follow ...

A well-made mini series, with good writing and mostly great acting. At only 6 episodes, there is little filler here, as the series moves as a brisk pace, following the intervening stories of 4 main characters. Once the story gets going it doesn't introduce any new characters or red herrings, but shows us the intrigue and interplay that follow the events of episode 1. It's definitely refreshing to see a story progresses in a logical sequence of events and characters acting as real people would, without any suspense of disbelief necessary. The atmosphere is authentic and Zagreb here is portrayed as an urban jungle, with the old town being completely left out.

The script is good, bolstered by a standout performance from Uliks Fehmiu, with unfortunately a healthy dose of camp from some side characters, which is luckily only noticeable to native croatian speakers.

I looked the first episode and can say I like it. Somehow I got caught up in that Nordic noir, watching everything shot north from Munich and I can say I like Uspjeh (eng. Success). Croatian Broen, and architect Haris drives, what else than - Volvo :) It seems to me that 6 episodes will be enough, I hope that from the second to the fifth will not be just filling. I'm a little bit bothered by the use of "dron" cadres, but ok ... at least the city of Zagreb looks like a real European metropolis, not a Balkan village at the end of the world. Original music is great, and music from the 60's must be, it seems to me that all retro today (listen to the soundtrack of Kiling Eve or Sharp Objects) provokes enthusiasm. Two thumbs up :)