10 million families around the world watched Polish Netflix production “Wielka Woda” within a week of its premiere. Jan Holoubek’s work was the second most viewed non-English-language series on the platform, in the top 10 of Netflix’s charts it was found in 78 countries, including USA, Great Britain, France, Denmark, Turkey, Morocco and Canada . From 3 to 9 October, spectators in total they spent nearly 46 million hours on the “Wielka Woda” street..
What made the production successful? – “Wielka Woda” is undoubtedly a very solid and well done series – says directly Łukasz Muszyński, deputy editor of Filmweb.pl. – Director duo Jan Holoubek / Bartłomiej Ignaciuk in collaboration with screenwriters Kinga Krzemińska and Kasper Bajon effectively creates tension in the first two episodes in anticipation of the eponymous catastrophe. When the flood wave reaches Wroclaw, the creators do not turn off the camera, but stage the struggle for survival on a large scale – he points out.
– The strength of the series is largely determined by its expressive and ambiguous characters. Holoubek and the company are well aware that without thoroughbred characters and a credibly intertwined network between their relationships, it will not be possible to attract the viewer’s attention and heart for more than four hours of screening. The cast of the series shines with stars – at the beginning of each episode, we wonder which famous and talented face we will see this time – says Muszyński. The second and third floors include, among others, Tomasz Kot, Lech Dyblik, Anna Dymna, Jacek Beler or Jerzy Trela in one of their latest roles.
“We love it when the world collapses on the screen”
Where does the popularity of Polish production come from among non-Polish-speaking users of the platform? – I would like to highlight two components of success. First of all the high quality of the series, moreover, far from Hollywood. Secondly, viewers’ unshakable fascination with catastrophic productions. Simply put, we love when the world collapses on the screen. Observing the cataclysm from the safe perspective of a sofa at home is perverse fun – says Muszyński.
According to film critic Łukasz Adamski, the production owes its international success to “a very well constructed script”. – Like American scripts for streaming service serials. With a very well written intrigue, perfectly inscribed in real events and – very importantly – large third parties and supporting roles. There are in-depth episodes, like the phenomenal one played by Anna Dymna. The characters have a past, they are psychologically well defined. Which, as far as the background is concerned, is not the norm in the Polish series – observes Adamski.
The critic draws attention to other advantages of “Big Water”: implementation, scenography, photos or use of special effects. – Everything sounds technically and artistically. Very well directed by showrunner Jan Holoubek, who already in “25 years of innocence. On Tomek Komenda” and “Rojsta” for two seasons, proved to be an efficient director – says Adamski.
At the forefront of the best Polish series in recent years
– One of the best in recent years. Undoubtedly one of the first three, certainly the top of those appeared in streaming. Holoubek has created another, alongside “Rojsta”, one of the best series of recent years – emphasizes Adamski.
– I don’t know if “Wielka Woda” is the best Polish series made since 1989 (my heart probably belongs to “Blinded by the lights” and the first “Extradition”), but it is definitely in the lead. We are pleased to hear that it has become a hot export product – adds Muszyński.
“Wielka Woda” premiered on Netflix on October 5th. The action takes place in the summer of 1997, when, among others, Breslau was crossed by the title of “great water”, later called “the flood of the millennium”. The series, directed by Jan Holoubek and Bartłomiej Ignaciuk, was starring Agnieszka Żulewska, Tomasz Schuchardt and Ireneusz Czop. The production consists of six episodes.
For over two years, Netflix has been by far the most popular VoD platform in Poland. According to a Mediapanel study in July this year. It was visited by 12.54 million Polish internet users, each of whom spent an average of 6 hours, 3 minutes and 22 seconds on the site. The company does not provide the number of customers in Poland. Globally at the end of June this year. Netflix had 220.76 million subscribers.
