Otvorena vrata

In this week of Corona Quarantine, I watched my favorite series, again. It seems to me that this is the 100th anniversary viewing. This is still our best series of all time. Amazingly, the years have not changed all these fantastic characters and situations. The series I grew up on is still a test of intelligence and creativity for many viewers and authors. 10/10 of course

Since beginning of Yugoslav television, comedy programs about contemporary society mostly relied on depicting "ordinary man", and trying to make the audience identify with the main characters. Whole bunch of both movies and series have been reaching extreme popularity among Yugoslav audience, a new and optimistic middle class in Tito's self-managed society: titles such as "Lude godine", "Tesna koža", "Pozorište u kući", "Bolji život" etc. all revolved around "small man" and his adventures in everyday environment.

On the contrary, "Otvorena vrata" completely threw away this cliché, and built a story (in fact, many stories, as each episode is for itself) around completely made-up and exaggerated characters. Placed in highly urban and intellectual milieu, the show refused to indulge mass audiences, and it is not clear how it got financed and aired under such hard circumstances as Milosevic's dictatorship was.

Fast paced, intellectually challenging, but most of the times really hilarious, the show is gaining the deserved acclaim just recently, after several reruns and with a help of Youtube, which is full of funny clips with memorable quotes.

Also, apart from brilliant screen writing (mostly by prized playwright Biljana Srbljanovic), the cast is what really makes it timeless, with top-of-the-line leads, notably Vesna Trivalic and Bogdan Diklic. The only one spoiling the picture is Bojana Maljevic, but luckily not given any important role.

Have you ever seen a family like this: - slightly neurotic mother - father who cheats the mother - male child who is sick all the time - daughter philosopher - uncle who is always afraid of something - uncle's daughter, a freaky teenage girl - many strange and twisted neighbors? If you haven't, my suggestion is to watch "Otvorena vrata". "Otvorena vrata" aka "Opened door" is probably the best Serbian TV-series ever. Althoug all the scenes were taken in one apartment, all of them are authentic and realistic. Wonderful screenplay, great characters and best acting (Vesna Trivalic, Bogdan Diklic, Bojana Maljevic, Olivera Markovic, Milan Gutovic, Vlasta Velisavljevic, and many others) made of this one great series. Unfortunately, it had been shown only a couple of times, so the spectators couldn't see how good it it. I hope some day there will be some reprises! Well, watch it and you will see how good it is!!!!! You will laugh as much as I did!

Best domestic series in the last two decades. Unmatched in every aspect of it. Great cast and great production above all else. I love them.

Simply the best forever. Cakana, Bata, Ana, Voja, Milica, Dragance, Ugrinovic .... are an integral part of my childhood.