Slovakia's explosive political drama 'Our People' has been selected to participate in Series Mania's Forum Co-Pro Pitching Sessions in March. The miniseries, produced by nutprodukcia and written by Miro Šifra, is inspired by the tragic real events surrounding the killing of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kušnírová in 2018.
Ján Kuciak's investigative work focused on tax frauds involving business figures and alleged connections between local politicians and the Italian mafia. The series aims to shed light on the interplay between the state and the mafia, as well as the risks faced by those who expose such corruption.
The team behind 'Our People' has access to tens of thousands of pages of case files related to the murders, providing a detailed insight into the events leading up to the tragic deaths. They have also conducted personal interviews with individuals close to the victims.
The creators emphasized the importance of international exposure for the project, expressing challenges in finding local broadcasting partners due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter. They drew inspiration from Adam McKay's work, particularly his ability to blend humor with serious themes.
'Our People' will explore various perspectives within Slovak society, from the young journalist to corrupt businessmen and law enforcement officials. The series aims to reflect the current state of affairs in Slovakia, where powerful individuals have operated with impunity for too long.
Miro Šifra, known for his previous work, aims to showcase the rich storytelling potential of Central Europe. He highlighted the global issue of attacks on journalists and the erosion of democratic values, drawing parallels to similar incidents worldwide.
The series seeks to address the rise of populist movements and the targeting of journalists, portraying a universal narrative of societal decay and the struggle for truth and justice.