Matroesjka's
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This article is about a Belgian television series. For the Russian nesting dolls see Matryoshka doll. For the French film, please see The Russian Dolls
Matroesjka's or De Matroesjka's (Dutch for Matryoshka doll), is a Flemish drama series about Eastern European prostitutes and Belgians involved in the related sex trade. The series takes place in Lithuania, Cyprus and in Belgium. "Matroesjka's" is sponsored by the "Flemish Autovisual Fund" (Vlaams Autovisueel Fonds).
Thus far, the series has ten episodes. It follows a serial format.
Because of explicit scenes, namely sex and violence, the program is not appropriate for people under 16 years of age (according to Belgian ratings).
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[edit] The Series, Generally
Although based on the problems associated with the sex-trade, the series is not so much a painful documentary or engaged criticism of those problems as it is a source of entertainment. Yet it is also true that director Marc Punt has said that it wouldn't be terrible if the series made people aware of those problems. Already, the series is used to warn women in the former Eastern Bloc of the practices associated with the sex-trade.
The program was first broadcast on the Belgian channel Canal+ (now known as "Prime"), and is now broadcast by Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij in Belgium and Yorin in the Netherlands.
After ten episodes, Matroesjka's receives a viewership in excess of 1.1 million. Above all it is its raw treatment of sex and violence that accounts for this level of viewership. It has been named by some people as one of the most successful series produced in Flanders. However, people in the Netherlands also often speak of it favorably.
[edit] List of Actors and the Characters they Play
- Peter Van den Begin - Raymond van Mechelen
- Luk Wyns - Eddy Stoefs
- Frank Aendenboom - John Dockx
- Tom Van Dyck - Vincent Dockx
- Lucas Van den Eynde - onderzoekjournalist Nico Maes
- Marc Van Eeghem - Marc Camps
- Wim Opbrouck - Mike Simons
- Ludo Hellinx - Nelson Nilis
- Karel Deruwe - Agent
- Stany Crets - Clem De Donder
- Jan Decleir - Vader Wim Wilson
- Axel Daeseleire - Jan Verplancke
- Hilde Heijnen - Laura Keyser
- Veerle De Jonghe - Esther Van De Walle
- Manou Kersting - Danny Bols
- Ailika Kremer - Eva
- Bert André - Henri Boon
- Warre Borgmans - Dokter Van Looy
- Sophie Decleir - Lut Jones
- Damiaan De Schrijver - Ludo Gulinck
- Vic de Wachter - Baas Nico Maes
- Eugenia Hirivskaya - Kalinka
- Ludo Hoogmartens - Pedro
- Indre Jaraite - Inesa
- Dainius Kazlauskas - Arnas Jarasunas
- Liubomiras Lauciavicius - Borzov
- Mila Lipner - Deborah
- Chris Lomme - Monique Wilson
- Andy Lucas - Stavros
- Marilou Mermans - Vivianne De Donder
- Zemyna Asmontaite - Daria
- Rasa Kirkilionyte- Moeder van Daria
- Vidas Petkevicius - Vader van Daria
- Vilma Raubaite - Kasandra
- Peter Thyssen - Rudi Sierens
- Lyubov Tolkalina - Olga
- Saartje Vandendriessche - Danseres Sita
- Greta Van Langhendonck - Buurvrouw
- Jan Van Looveren - Peter Jones
- Svetlana Vladimirovna - Luna
- Ronny Waterschoot Cheef Van Hout
- Denise Zimmerman - Buurvrouw van Mike
[edit] Episode 1
The episode begins in Lithuania in the Haidis Theatre, where Ray van Mechelen together with his business partner Marc Camps have gone to find young women to work as dancers in Belgium. They promise a future in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. The best young women receive a contract written in Greek. Several others reject the contract; they think that the young women will be forced to become prostitutes. Later, a news article in Belgium appears, about two murdered young women whose bodies were found in the canal of Doel. The women remain nonetheless undecided about their departure.
[edit] Episode 2
The second episode takes place in Cyprus. The illusions the women had about give way for a harsh reality (surely the reason why one of the women is disobedient). The settlement of their account will happen later. Thuis in Belgium attempts to extract more information about the two murdered young women from Nico Maes, a journalist with the Volksgazet. While stripping on the beach, two of the young women (Olga and Deborah) were able to get away via a window in the bathroom. At the police office, they try to explain their position in English, but the men working there understand only Greek. At the moment that the police chief comes, Marc Camps also comes it and sees the women. Their attempt at escape is dashed. Vincent Dockx, the son of maffioso John Dockx, gets arrested.
More to come!
[edit] Trivia
- Because of the success of the first season, a deal has been negotiated between VTM, Independent Productions, and several foreign commercial broadcasters to make a second season.
- The first season can be seen in the following countries: the Netherlands, Great Britain, France, Russia, Brazil, Hungary, and Lithuania.
- The British composer David Julyan provided the music score for the series.
