The title, of course, is promising. On January 3, the series Salsa started on Channel 1. When there was advertising, I thought how good it is that on the New Year holidays we will see a new series and even with that title. Incendiary Latin American dances – well, who doesn’t like them? Yes, and our Russian audience loved American films, starting with Dirty Dancing (1987) and the subsequent Dirty Dancing 2, Keep the Rhythm, etc., etc. The feelings conveyed by the plastic of the body, some love story, and perhaps not one – these are the thoughts that the name Salsa evoked for me.
But after watching the first series, I was left wondering – where is everything I was waiting for? Instead, a Cuban girl fleeing to Russia from the law; some fraud in the bank; arrests, and even with riot police. Well, it looks like a detective. And by the end of the series, a real drama is played out. The heroes of the series are all with a lot of problems, are on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The dance, of course, is present, but it is not enough for a series called Salsa. It seems to me that the young writers were in a hurry, and having invited a professional dancer Diana Estrada, they decided that this was the key to success. Diana can also be seen online. But in the series I, as a spectator, in the New Year I want to see a good story with a good acting, easy, carrying only positive emotions. Unfortunately, this story did not work out.
The characters of the series (even those played by good actors) in the framework of a given script sometimes look ridiculous and make outright inadequate actions.
Irina, the leading specialist of the bank, played by A. Babenko (the actress is wonderful), due to problems at work, is submitted to producers (as if this profession does not require any experience or skills), and the loss in earnings is very significant for a single woman who, moreover, helps the family of her son. Not convincing to me her words - "I want to dance" - well, I don't believe it! Throughout the series, the two men are tossed around like an 18-year-old girl. And it looks absolutely stupid her attempt to annoy Igor, jumping on stage and grabbing the microphone from him (this is during the presentation of the dance school), – well, will not behave as a woman serious and status as we are presented at the beginning of the series.
Lucia, a Cuban girl, is played by professional dancer Diana Estrada. Diana, of course, is a master of her craft - she dances magnificently! But not an actress. Smiling the whole show doesn’t mean playing a role. But as a choreographer of a dance project, invited to the show star, jury member Diana, of course, would look natural and organic.
Igor, a dance teacher, performed by Boris Khvoshnyansky, is very charismatic, although he cannot dance. Therefore, the operator shows some legs, sometimes support for the waist and faces pressed against each other, but the dance entirely performed by the famous salsero was not seen. I guess time was running out. An actor with his beautiful composition, I think, would not be a problem to learn at least simple dance moves.
Igor shares an adult 16-year-old daughter with his ex-wife – not interesting and implausible, not a 5-year-old child. He likes one, and goes to bed with another, for which passion arose suddenly during the dance. Only now I did not see any passionate dance or passion.
The hero of Pavel Delong - Peter, a real positive hero, loves one woman and does not rush from side to side, but also rich. But he also gets into a ridiculous situation when Oleg Ivanovich (the bank manager) comes to him with the prosecutor’s permission to search (this is done exclusively by law enforcement agencies). Peter stews and immediately agrees with all the conditions of the manager.
Sergei, the son of Irina (A. Ratnikov), is also torn between his wife and mistress. But it's normal. But when he, an adult, a doctor, closes his mistress naked on the balcony in winter and leaves, the thought arises - is he actually adequate?
Vasily Stepanovich, the father of Lucia (V. Afanasyev), and his wife are perhaps the only heroes whose actions are simple and understandable.
Finally, Igor’s sister, Nadia, a pretty young woman, a mother of 4 children. But this is where the real drama played out, and is it necessary in the New Year's series?
Not bad were the last series, when the dance competition itself was shown. The dances are well staged, rhythmic, the music is great. But there were no incidents here either. During the contest, Lucia faints on stage, she is carried away, but behind the scenes only her father runs up to her. No one else approached her, not even an ambulance was called. The show goes on! Is that normal? I don't think so.
The most striking were the final shots of the series, in which cheerful and happy Cubans dance under the scorching sun, despite all the material hardships. It would have been the whole series.
In conclusion, I want to say that the idea of making a dance series is wonderful. The theme of the series - it's never too late to change something in your life - is also good. This is not done in the best way by the creators. But this is my subjective viewpoint. I am happy for those who liked the series.