An Ordinary Woman (2018–2021) User Reviews

Benefit of Anna Mikhalkova

[Zhorzhik-Morzhik · 8/10 · 8 March 2020]

"An Ordinary Woman" by Boris Khlebnikov and Nataliya Meshchaninova is one of the best Russian TV shows of the last decade. The double life of the never depressing main character of the film, saturated with a series of unpredictable and tragic events, as a reflection of the double standards of today's life in Russia. Benefit of the wonderful actress Anna Mikhalkova.

Russian series with influence from Breaking Bad

[surfisfun · 8/10 · 10 November 2021]

I like it is not from usa.+1 for "real life" looks.

As some black humor.

Too slow at times.

Cynical look at Russian negotiations under the table .

Decent cast.

Very recommended!

interesting....

[her-rat · 6/10 · 1 January 2023]

I've never been into series a great deal, and now I know why: it just eats up too much ( life) time. Even if one is not that hugely impressed it does draw you in and you want to see how it's ending.

About this one in particular: I would describe it a typical kind of tv fodder. The most interesting aspect about it is that it seems to describe life in nowaday russia fairly accurately - someone is always counting huge wads of cash and there seems to be corruption just about everywhere. I am surprised that they got away with this - censorshipwise. It's not overly violent and there is - surprising for it beeing about a madam running a ring of prostitutes - not a blink of nudity. Maybe that' s why.

The acting I found generally pretty excellent and it makes a nice change to have women pulling the main strings. From this aspect it is almost something of a feminist sort of film.

What a pleasant surprise

[timmcg-940-375405 · 10/10 · 6 July 2019]

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series and with two episodes to go, I'll hate to see it end. It's about as black as a black comedy can be but it very, very funny... laugh out loud funny!

The acting is superb, not one weak actor / actress in the cast & the storyline keeps you guessing how each scene will resolve.

Highly recommended IMHO.

A wonderful TV series with an insight on modern Russia.

[alex-2590 · 10/10 · 16 June 2019]

It's a series about modern Russia, corruption, cynicism of people who have accustomed to the surrounding environment in order to survive. It's a tragedy about women of all walks of life but a tragedy not without humour. Great acting by pretty much everyone in the film makes it that much better to watch. I enjoyed it thoroughly, highly recommended!

It is not a comedy!

[bartolomeyvolt · 10/10 · 8 November 2018]

This is a tragedy. Tragedy in each fragment. You look without stopping, everything is interesting in the plot.

One of the best Russian series over the past couple years

[altur-74696 · 10/10 · 5 July 2021]

Absolutely breathtaking story, brilliant Anna Mikhalkova as "an ordinary Russian woman" who turned out to be not so ordinary after all.

Russia how it is ...

[michael-wirth-22704 · 10/10 · 27 December 2022]

Now on the end of 2022 I fall into this series and I think it's incredible how it's mirroring the Russian society! It's entertaining for sure, but the most interesting is how the filmmakers show this society wich a very clear eye. It's like a mafia state, more corrupted than you can imagine and people battle for there rights and try to make a living with very little hope. Excellent to see this from Russia without any hope for the close future. It's very political I'm aware about this ... the characters in this series are very good and excellently played. Depressing for sure to see how people try to survive but I'm hooked to see how they succeed. If you have the chance to see it , go for it ... I saw it on ARTE TV.

A cheap attempt at (and plagiate of) Breaking Bad / Saul

[lostangel-45900 · 3/10 · 6 March 2021]

If you've enjoyed Better call Saul and Breaking Bad, I'd advise against watching this. Throughout the show unless you switch off your brain completely, you keep asking yourself "why are they doing this?" and the only answer is "so the show can go on with characters overcoming unrealistic self-imposed difficulties". Parts of the plot are so generic and americanesque that they do not fit in within Russian reality at all, but are otherwise easily recognizable. Hotel clerk woman is a copycat of Saul's girlfriend for example. Script is filled with such glaring holes, that even taking it for a dark unfunny comedy doesn't help. Actors seem smarter than the script and it appears you can sometimes see them cringe... Bortich is her usual blank-o-wood expression range, same for the protagonist's what'shername daughter. But it wouldn't be complete as a pile of ... excitement without feminist angle. Pretty much all men are incapable flaccid trash, while all women are almighty... Makes me not ever want to let a pregnant woman take my seat on a public transport - she is apparently stronger than me and doesn't need it... Hell, she could probably just walk any distance... It's filmed alright though.