Chiki (TV series)

Chiki
GenreComedy drama
Created byEduard Oganesyan
Written byEduard Oganesyan
Directed byEduard Oganesyan
StarringIrina Gorbacheva
Irina Nosova
Varvara Shmykova
Alena Mikhailova
Anton Lapenko
Opening theme"Chiki" by Ivan Dorn
Country of originRussia
Original languageRussian
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producerMargarita Popova
ProducersRuben Dishdishyan
Denis Gorshkov
Yuliya Ivanova
Vyacheslav Murugov
Maksim Rybakov
Fyodor Bondarchuk
Mikhail Vrubel
Alexander Andryushchenko
CinematographyYuri Nikogosov
Mikhail Dementyev
Running time47 minutes
Production companiesNMG Studio
Mars Media
Original release
Networkmore.tv
STS
ReleaseJune 4 (2020-06-04) –
July 16, 2020 (2020-07-16)

Chiki (Russian: Чи́ки) is a Russian comedy-drama television series produced by NMG Studio and Mars Media.[1] The series was one of the original projects of the more originals lineup.[2]

The first two episodes premiered on 4 June 2020 on the streaming service more.tv.[3] New episodes were released weekly on Thursdays.[4] The final episode was released on 16 July 2020.

Plot

Svetа, Lyuda, and Marina are sex workers operating along a highway in a small southern Russian town. Their friend Zhanna returns from Moscow and proposes that they start their own business and begin a new life.

They face opposition from their former pimp, businessman Valera, and his nephew Danila, a criminal and Cossack.

A parallel storyline follows Roma, Zhanna’s son. Roma’s father, Kostya, attempts to rebuild a relationship with his son, but Zhanna refuses any contact with him.

After losing their money to scammers, the women initially fail to start their business, and Zhanna finds herself in serious trouble. Ultimately, however, thanks to Zhanna’s determination, her friends leave their former lives behind, find love, and rebuild relationships with their families.

Cast

Main

Supporting

  • Mikhail Troynik as Father Sergiy
  • Daniil Kuznets as Roma
  • Vitali Kishchenko as Valera
  • Viktoriya Tolstoganova as Marina’s mother
  • Steven Ochsner as Kostya
  • Anton Lapenko as Yura, a police officer
  • Sergey Gilyov as Danila
  • Ivan Fominov as Anton
  • Nikolai Denisov as Sveta’s father
  • Anatoly Mateshov as Lyuda’s father
  • Sergey Barinov as Marina’s grandfather
  • Tatyana Shkrabak as Marina’s grandmother
  • Marina Ivanova as Lyuda’s stepmother

Episodes

Season Episodes Original release
1 8 4 June – 16 July 2020

Production

Filming of the pilot episode took place in August 2018.[5]

Principal photography occurred from July to October 2019 in Kabardino-Balkaria.[6][7]

On 4 September 2019, the film crew was fired upon by an intoxicated local resident using a Saiga rifle in the town of Prokhladny.[8] No one was injured, and the suspect was detained by police.

Music

One of the soundtracks was composed by Ivan Dorn. His song "Chiki" was released on 4 June 2020 by the Masterskaya label and made available on Apple Music.[9]

Reception

The series recorded the most successful launch in the history of the more.tv streaming service. Within three weeks, the first four episodes accumulated 3.5 million views.[10]

Awards

  • 2021 — National Web Industry Award: Online Event of the Year; Best Internet Series[11]
  • 2021 — Association of Film and Television Producers Awards: Best TV Series; Best Director; Best Original Music; Best Cinematography; Best Casting[12]

References

  1. ^ «Это больше, чем просто сериал» — Горбачева о новом проекте «Чики» // Channel Five, 19 May 2020
  2. ^ "Национальная Медиа Группа" запускает уникальный сервис more.tv Archived 2020-07-07 at the Wayback Machine // REN TV, 24 September 2019
  3. ^ [1] Archived 2020-07-08 at the Wayback Machine // RTVI, 20 May 2020
  4. ^ [2] Archived 2020-07-09 at the Wayback Machine // Izvestia, 19 May 2020
  5. ^ [3]
  6. ^ [4] Archived 2020-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ [5] Archived 2020-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ [6] Archived 2019-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ [7]
  10. ^ [8]
  11. ^ "Сериалы "Чики" и "Перевал Дятлова" получили награды премии в области веб-индустрии" (in Russian). TASS. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Названы победители IX премии АПКиТ" (in Russian). Бюллетень Кинопрокатчика. Retrieved 18 February 2025.