tv series – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

The Making of RISE OF THE RAVEN (TIFF 2025) – Liz Braun reports

September 9, 2025September 14, 2025 Liz Braun CBC Gem, Franciska Törőcsik, Gellért L. Kádár, historical drama, Janos Hunyadi, Mór Bán, Rade Serbedzija, Rise of The Raven, Robert Lantos, TIFF 2025, truth-based, tv series, Vivien Rujder

No dragons, real people: that’s the main difference between a riveting new TV series called Rise of The Raven and Game of Thrones, to which Rise of The Raven is being compared. Both series involve court intrigue, heartless betrayal, ferocious battle scenes, plenty of sex and spectacular sets and costumes — but Rise of The Raven involves actual historical figures. That authenticity is an enormous advantage. AAnd, for all the swashbuckling, Rise of The Raven is feminist throughout; there’s not a single king, duke, knight, emperor, sultan or ruler of any stripe who is not motivated and controlled by the women in his life.

Reviews

SHADOW LINES – Review by Diane Carson

May 5, 2022May 8, 2022 Diane Carson amazon prime, cold war, Russian and Finnish history, Shadow Lines, truth-based, tv series, Urho Kaleva Kekkonen

Based on historical records, Shadow Lines dramatizes a complicated, multilayered series of events in 1956, as Urho Kaleva Kekkonen becomes Finland’s President. A flash point for the Cold War, Finland must struggle and surreptitiously fight to maintain its neutrality as Russia infringes on its fragile, threatened independence. With more overtones than feel comfortable right now, the 18 episode series echoes across the decades with contemporary geopolitical issues.