Domestic youth crime saga "Law of the Jungle"

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

"Law of the Stone Jungle" is a visually impressive, dramaturgically energetic and tough domestic crime series about the modern "lost" generation of youth. It was created by RatPack Production by order of the TNT channel. The first season aired in March 2015, the second, sub titled Where Dreams May Come, in the first month of spring 2017. Often the name of the project is reduced to the laconic name "Law of the Jungle". The film received rave reviews, with an IMDb rating of 7.10.

Project start

The series "Law of the Jungle - 1" has filled an empty niche in modern Russian cinema, despite the resounding success of "Brigade" and "Boomer", few dare to create cruel crime sagas about how "the boys went to success". Filmmakers can be justified, since the subject matter is extremely sensitive, the probability is too high to embark onobsessive edification or romanticization of crime. But the authors of The Law of the Jungle found this line, although they could not turn around properly. Eight episodes is simply not enough for a project rich in characters.

Initially, the project was created by Igor Chomsky, his visualization is distinguished by a peppy, but quite practical style. Good actors were involved in the production process: Aristarkh Venes (“Operation “Color of the Nation”), Alexander Melnikov (“Private Pioneer”), Igor Ogurtsov (“Expulsion”), Nikita Pavlenko (“Outside the Game”). In general, everything turned out stylish, fashionable, youthful.

Street drama

The action of the TV movie "Law of the Jungle" takes place on the outskirts of Moscow. Four young guys who have been friends since childhood decide to become a gang and illegally get rich. Tim (A. Venes), Tsypa (N. Pavlenko), Zhuk (I. Ogurtsov) and Gosha (A. Melnikov) do not think about the consequences of their games with the police and established representatives of the criminal world. Easy money, cool showdowns, shootouts - a natural pseudo-realistic "street drama" about guys from the suburbs.

Of course, the plot of the "Law of the Jungle" is rather secondary, recall the domestic "Brigade" with "Boomer" and the Hong Kong cycle about the triad "Young and Dangerous". By the way, there one of the heroes was called Chicken, that is, Chicken. But the series is still very good, an excellent soundtrack, a lot of cinematography, style and director's finds, including a brief retelling of the content of previous episodes in the rap style with phrases frommovie.

Where Dreams May Come

"Law of the Jungle 2" turned out even more spectacular, its creators demonstrate an exemplary master class in competent balancing on the edge of a moral razor.

The story begins with the fact that, having de alt with unwanted guests, the heroes strengthen their position in the criminal world. Their "curator" authority Vadik (A. Petrov) decides to entrust them with bigger things. But in the life of the heroes there is still a place for personal problems: Zhuk does not dare to enter the ring after a head injury, Tim, unable to drown out the pain with conventional medicines, gets hooked on drugs, Gosha solves his father's problems, and Tsypa is completely confused in his feelings for Tim's sister.

The second season was created by another director, Pavel Kostomarov acted as director, whose visualization is distinguished by a frankly clip style. The plot, revealed throughout the same eight episodes, is oversaturated with events. Sometimes the lines of heroes diverge into a "solo" performance, but the authors do not allow them to fall apart. At the same time, they do without “soapy” stretches, maintain the structure and end the second season with a tough but eloquent ellipsis. Heroes, of course, want to empathize, but not imitate, because they tighten the nooses on their necks voluntarily and on their own, it doesn’t happen otherwise in the criminal world.

One of the virtues of the first season was considered to be curious acting work, the second in this respect looks no worse. The central characters confidently hold the bar, consolidating success, the secondary ones get the opportunityopen up. Yulia Khlynina, who played the role of Tim's sister, is especially impressive.

Recommended for viewing

Law of the Jungle proves that a series can be educational and entertaining at the same time, classic and flawlessly modern, provocative without being annoying. Of course, one can find fault with both seasons on trifles, but in a general sense it is extremely durable, worthy of the attention of a wide audience. I would like to wish the project creative longevity, and its creators - inexhaustible inspiration.