The series "Rise of the Raven" starts on viju

In February, fans of costume dramas will see the premiere of the series "Rise of the Raven." This is the story of the Hungarian commander Janos Hunyadi, who devoted his life to holding back the onslaught of the Ottoman Empire. For Hungary, the release of the series was a large—scale cultural event, and for the global audience, it was a rare opportunity to discover a new hero who would not be shown in mass cinema. "Rise of the Raven" starts streaming on viju cinema on February 2, and from February 9 it will be available to watch on viju+ Serial TV channel for two episodes per day.

In Hungary, the Hunyadi family name is shrouded in fame: He is a national hero and a symbol of an entire epoch. The raven coat of arms has become an integral part of the family's image, and several legends have developed around it. The most famous is about the raven who stole the ring. There is also a version about the bird as a messenger of liberation, and the most rational explanation is related to the nickname Corvinus, which literally translates as "raven". Hence the name of the series. The plot is based on the popular series of historical novels by writer Ban Mora, which set the scale and tone of the series.

The plot takes the viewer back to the 15th century, a time when Europe was on the edge of a precipice, and the Ottomans could redraw the map of the continent. Against this background, Commander Janos Hunyadi appears, a charismatic leader who has to make difficult decisions and sacrifice his personal for the sake of a common cause. It depends on his steps in which direction the pendulum of history will swing. In the series, fierce battles are juxtaposed with palace intrigues, and fragile alliances crumble and arise anew.

The directing team is interesting — four people worked here at once. Robert Dornhelm (the series "Murder according to Freud") is responsible for the historical scale, Orsi Nagypal (the series "Librarians: The Next Chapter") is responsible for the emotions of the characters, Attila Sas ("Childish Tales") is responsible for the spectacular battles, and Balazh Lendyela (the series "Golden Life") added drive and narrative density. Together they turned "The Rise of the Raven" into a dynamic and spectacular historical drama, from which it is impossible to break away.

Another highlight of the series is the incredible number of actors: more than 600 people from different countries. Everyone speaks their native language, which makes the series feel alive and truly historical. The main role was played by Romanian actor Kadar L. Gellert ("Dead End"), who often plays complex, restrained characters and has a strong theatrical background. The image of his wife was embodied by Vivien Ruyder ("Alienist"). Franziska Terecek ("I am a Cat"), Laszlo Matray ("The Last Kingdom") and others also played key characters.

The premiere screening of "Rise of the Raven" took place in Cannes. For the series, this became a point of entry into the international arena and emphasized the status of one of the most ambitious projects in Central Europe.

Russian viewers can watch "The Rise of the Raven" from February 2 on viju movie streaming, and from February 9 on viju+ Serial TV channel.