Why watch the TV series "Food Block", where pioneers fight vampires

On May 19, KinoPoisk HD launches the Pishcheblok series based on the novel of the same name by Alexei Ivanov (the author of the book The Geographer Drank His Globe Away). The nostalgic story, which takes place in a Soviet pioneer camp, was filmed by director Svyatoslav Podgaevsky. This director does not have a very good track record. Previously, he worked on Russian horror films with long and awkward titles: “Yaga. Nightmare of the Dark Forest "," The Queen of Spades: Black Rite "," Love spell. Black wedding ".

But in "Pishcheblok" horror is only one of the components of the story. The atmosphere of the past and an unusual plot are added to them. Judging by the first three episodes that were given to the press, the series, although it goes too far with social slogans, is an exciting sight: sometimes frightening, then very funny.

Toy but sweet nostalgia

In the summer of 1980, another shift begins at the Burevestnik pioneer camp. Among other children, Valera Lagunov (Pyotr Natarov) arrives there - a very intelligent, but closed boy, whose older brother recently died. Valera does not get along well with the guys from the group, but always rebuffs. One of the counselors is student Igor Korzukhin (Daniil Vershinin), who falls in love with his colleague Veronica (Angelina Strechina) on the very first day. However, she, as it turns out, has a fiancé.

But the heroes' personal problems soon start to seem like little things. After all, real vampires appear in the camp. At night, they bite the inhabitants of the "Petrel", after which the victims turn into the most diligent pioneers.

Since The Food Block tells the whole story, and is not built in a procedural format (when the characters have a new adventure in each episode), the first episode can give the wrong impression. It seems that the authors of the project put too much pressure on the nostalgia for the USSR that is fashionable today, doing it unnaturally and hastily.

Most of the heroes look like stereotypical masks: an overly active senior counselor, local hooligans, the son of a party boss, tired of being correct, immediately appear. And the main characters seem to be clichéd: an intelligent and rational boy beyond his years and a young man in love who violates the Soviet order.

But here it is worth paying attention to the opening scene of the series, in which they tell a children's horror story about statues that have come to life (they will return to such stories regularly), and to the mystical genre itself. Unlike the “Peace! Friendship! Chewing gum! ", The authors of which are sincerely nostalgic for the 90s, the creators of" Pishcheblok "are rather ironic about the past. They do not show the real 80s, but their reflection in children's folklore and memories.

Hence the exaggerated characters, and the eroticism of what is happening, deliberate to almost shameful scenes. This is how bright moments of the past can come to mind. Although they sometimes go too far with frankness. Perhaps the episode where Valera squeezes toothpaste onto the naked legs of the girl he likes would not look so uncomfortable. If at the same time they did not show the night bathing of a half-naked student.

Charming protagonists and stereotypical extras

Already from the end of the first series, the action will slow down too quick and superficial acquaintance with the characters and the setting. The plot will become more interesting, and grotesque characters will perfectly fit into the general madness of what is happening. It's hard to find fault with incredibly sexy clothes when vampires are running around the camp. However, it's nice that the authors will allow the main characters to reveal themselves. And it turns out that young Peter Natarov surprisingly plays no worse than most adult actors.

It should be admitted that a significant part of his peers frankly falls short of talent. But they are not given enough scenes either.

The story is about the same with the actors playing the students: the performers of the main roles cope with dignity, and the rest only act out the necessary scenes. The chemistry between the charming characters Vershinin and Strechina would have been reminiscent of Soviet teenage cinema, if not for obsessive frankness.

In the first episodes, the older generation is not really allowed to open up. Although for a part of the public, it is their names that will turn out to be the most familiar. That Nikolai Fomenko, that Irina Pegova are already tightly registered in Russian TV shows. Alas, they cannot boast of a variety of interesting images lately.

But the most ironic deal was with the character, whose name is Serp Ivanovich Ieronov. Those who have read the book know the twist associated with it. And the rest of the audience will understand that he was introduced into the plot for a reason. After all, he is played by Sergei Shakurov, who once performed the main role in the film "One Hundred Days After Childhood" - one of the most famous Soviet films about pioneer camps. The result is an inconspicuous easter egg from the authors.

Successful stylization with poor direction

Although the creators of the series are boasting A new trailer for "Pishcheblok" has been released - a mystical fantasy KinoPoisk HD based on the novel by Alexey Ivanov that the visual effects for them were created by the studio Aaron Sims Creative ("It", "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"), from "Pishcheblok" you should not expect some incredible chart breakthroughs. In scenes with children's horror stories, monsters look much better than, for example, in "Vampires of the Middle Lane", but still not realistic.

True, Pishcheblok doesn't really need it. Even in letters to the press, they emphasized that the project does not follow the canons of horror (although there will be a couple of screamers for the first episodes), but rather mystical fiction. Therefore, creating an atmosphere is more important here than specific effects.

The impression is spoiled a little by the weak direction. Podgaevsky seems to be trying to demonstrate his skills, but does not understand what exactly he wants to show. Retro stylizations are interspersed with clip editing, and the abundance of close-ups quickly loses its emotionality and begins to tire. True, there are several good finds related to Valera's thought process: dialogues with a dead brother, diary entries and flashbacks.

They try to work with the soundtrack in an unusual way. Moreover, unlike most films and TV series in the setting of the 80s, they use not Soviet music, but, for example, Space Oddity performed by David Bowie. Such hits are always nice to hear, but in this case their purpose is not clear. The song, in theory, should turn another love scene into an example of teenage romance, but it does not fit at all either in mood or in content.

But, in spite of the mistakes, “Pishcheblok” copes well with the mood. Stylizations and the perceived unnaturalness of what is happening save the day. The series sometimes resembles a slasher movie. True, again for children, without real cruelty (in contrast to the gloomy perestroika film "Before the first blood"). Heroes regularly find themselves in danger, and one can only guess which of them will be unlucky. It's funny, though, that the victims don't actually die (at least in the first episodes), but become very accommodating. It's like a horror movie the other way around.

Political overtones too obvious

Oddly enough, films about pioneer camps in Soviet times often became a field for discussions on social topics. This is logical: at first glance, such a summer vacation seems like a time of growing up, experimentation and freedom, which is not found either in school or under the supervision of parents.

On the other hand, children find themselves in an organization with a very clear hierarchy, and this makes it possible to present the camp as a state in miniature. Accordingly, the main theme of many such works is the clash of personal interests and the bureaucratic machine. So, for example, the famous film by Elem Klimov “Welcome, or No Unauthorized Entry” appeared, which, under the guise of a children's comedy, makes fun of officials.

The "food block" follows exactly the same paths, but it swings even wider. And this is another controversial part of the project. And it came from the original book.

Alexey Ivanov Author of the novel "Pishcheblok", in a commentary to the newspaper "Gazeta.ru"

The essence of pioneering is ideology. The essence of vampire is selfishness. To be realized, selfishness takes on the appearance of ideology. This always happens when ideology is dead, when it cannot defend itself against selfishness. And ideology dies when it is the only one.

The problem is that the falsity of the ideology of the USSR is presented too intrusively. The senior counselor, played by Pegova, is terrified that the child will call his parents, not even knowing what happened to him. The doctor is afraid of childhood illnesses only because of a possible scandal. The canteen worker feeds the dogs at all in case of war. And the most boring one looks like an evil young man with influential parents. He is fixated on Soviet stereotypes and speaks only in clichéd phrases.

The idea of "Pishcheblok" is clear. But when watching, Viktor Pelevin will often be remembered, who spoke much more interestingly on this topic both in the "Blue Lantern" dedicated to the children's camp, and in "Empire V" about vampires. The first work, by the way, was filmed in the form of a short film "It's okay", and according to the second, Viktor Ginzburg is now making a film.

"Pishcheblok" is yet another proof that people in Russia are learning to work with genre serials and shoot cheerfully and brightly. The project may look imperfect: some of the actors are clearly underplaying, the hints are too obvious, and the erotic scenes cause very mixed feelings. But in general, the first episodes fly by in one breath. I really want to worry about charming characters, and the atmosphere successfully combines a game of nostalgia and funny references to horror films.