Filmed in Hungary: Russian Doll

While we are taking a closer look at hit series (Stranger Things, The Continental) we would be doing a disservice to fans of quirky, mind-bending intrigue, if we didn’t touch on the latest season of smash Netflix series Russian Doll, which, predictably, was partially shot in Budapest.

But it wasn’t only for the cost-effectiveness that the series was shot here. Budapest plays an important role in the protagonist’s (Nadia, played by show creator Natasha Lyonne) past and in the storyline. In this time-lapse structured series, Nadia has Hungarian Jewish grandparents, and must return in time to reclaim the family fortune, lost in the Holocaust. As such, locations in Budapest are utilized in the story, and many local acting luminaries get speaking roles.

The script also calls for the leading actor, Lyonne, to speak fluent Hungarian. While locals find fault in her heavy American accent, they praise her for putting in the effort, as Hungarian is notoriously complex and difficult for English speakers to learn.

Towards the end of the trailer, you will see some classic Budapest locations, from Nyugati railway station, to the trippy Kelenföld Power Station. After the grungy shots of New York City, Budapest comes off looking very elegant and classical indeed.

Reviews have been thus far, very positive, with NBC News calling the second season ‘exhilarating’, and Rotten Tomatoes rating it a very juicy 96 / 100 in viewer satisfaction. In a longish think piece, The Atlantic had this to say: Season 2, which debuted on Netflix this week, is somehow even more ambitious, even denser with layers (“I don’t think you want to peel that onion,” Nadia tells a man in one scene who asks her who she is), allusions, and belly flops right into the temporal paradox. Instead of being trapped within loops of time, Nadia finds herself vaulting back into the past, via a mystical subway that sends her into the bodies of her mother and grandmother. The show’s examination of inherited trauma—Nadia’s grandparents, like Lyonne’s, were Holocaust survivors—through the Back to the Future–esque conceit of time travel seems ripe with potential.”

So, tune in, if you have the time, to see Budapest past and present, in one of its most challenging roles yet.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.