AT Internationally, the spotlight is on one man: Volodymyr Zelensky, hero of the Ukrainian resistance and political icon. From this media coverage generated by the war comes an unexpected consequence. A television series written, directed, produced and starred by the Ukrainian president offers a resurrection in France.
Title servant of the people, this satirical fiction has been available on the Arte.tv platform since November. Before the outbreak of the conflict at the end of February, however, it did not arouse the expected interest with the French public. On Tuesday March 15, France Info, reporting the statements of the rights-holding channel, announced that the first season, containing 23 episodes, had exceeded three million views on French territory.
READ ALSOVolodymyr Zelensky’s series that irritated Putin broadcast on Arte
The editorial director of Arte France, Boris Razon, was delighted to count this series among the “must-sees” of the moment. The screenplay revolves around the character played by Volodymyr Zelensky, a history professor who finds himself in spite of himself propelled to the head of the country. “While he confides his disappointment over the corruption of the elites – with forceful oaths – to a colleague, the history professor Vassili Goloborodko is filmed without his knowledge. The video, posted on the Internet, quickly reached several million views and the humble citizen was brought to power in the presidential election, ”says the official synopsis.
TV star and head of state
In 2019, four years after the first broadcast of the servant of the people, Volodymyr Zelensky was elected President of Ukraine with 73% of the vote. Before obtaining this supreme function, the star comedian had never experienced politics. At 19and day of the Russian offensive, to win the freedom of his people, the former actor continues a formidable showdown with Vladimir Putin.
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