Damjana

Damjana
Promotional image for the show
Genre	War miniseries Drama
Based on	Based on Damjana by Todor Miroslavov Valerieva
Written by	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova
Directed by	Duska Dimitroska
Starring	Zoran Vozetić Kiel Langov Hratch Samuelian Miroslav Pogonchev Nicolaos Kainowski Eduard Mijatović Igor Rozman Grigori Sashov Dimitrov Jamin Ilievski Haro Mkrtchyan
Country of origin	Syara
Original language(s)	Syaran
No. of episodes	10
Production
Producer(s)	Trayko Plamenov Ivanov
Production location(s)	Syara
Cinematography	Sanasar Takoushian
Editor(s)	Zlatan Turundzhov
Running time	600 minutes
Production company(s)	Fused Productions
Budget	$85 million
Release
Original network	AVT
Original release	May 23 (2020-05-23) – July 25, 2020 (2020-07-25)

Damjana is a Syaran ten-part television miniseries produced for AVT. Damjana is based on the book of the same name by Todor Miroslavov Valerieva, which chronicles the experience of a squad of Syaran motorized infantry during the Zemplen War. The series was written by Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova and directed by Duska Dimitroska for Fused Productions. The show premiered on May 23, 2020, a decade after the beginning of the war, and aired its final installment on 25 July the same year, a week after the ten year anniversary of the war's end.

Named after the armored personnel carrier the squad rode in during the war, Damjana focuses mostly on the interpersonal relationships and experiences of the squad throughout the conflict. Although some of the events depicted in the show sparked controversy in Syara, the show was a major commercial and critical success. Damjana was voted the best television show of the 2010s despite its late entry, and became very popular with Syaran veterans for its accurate depiction of the Syaran National Army.

Production

Valerieva, a former noncommissioned officer in the Syaran Army, published Damjana in 2014. The book was a major success and became a bestseller in Syara, prompting the AVT affiliated Fused Productions company to secure a deal to produce a television series based on the book. Valerieva was brought upon to serve as a consultant for the production and appears as a cameo in several of the episodes. The series follows the duration of the Zemplen War shortly after its beginnings in June 2008 and concludes in July 2010, shortly after the Treaty of Aragon was signed. Filming was down in Syara from March 2019-Feburary 2020. There was a strong push to finish the series by the ten year anniversary of the war, and post production didn't finish until early May 2020.

Crew

The series was directed by Duska Dimitroska, with screenplay written by Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova. Both women had previously worked together on a number of projects with Fused Productions, which they felt helped ease the process. Karavelova, who's brother had been wounded in the war, stated she had a strong desire to express the conflict "honestly and authentically". Karavelova conducted extended interviews with former members of the squad to fully grasp their personality and speaking mannerisms, while Dimitroska and lead cinematographer Sanasar Takoushian met with numerous veterans to ensure the series was portrayed realistically.

Cast

About 20 starring cast members appear in the series, with a larger number of supporting cast. The principle characters the series followed were the original ten members of the squad, three of which were replaced during the series in accordance with real life events. Additional members of 3rd Platoon and Delta Company appear throughout the series.

The primary cast include:

• Junior Sergeant Domagoj Matkovićm, leader of Second Squad, portrayed by Zoran Vozetić
• Private First Class Dzvonko Soposki, machinegunner, portrayed by Kiel Langov
• Private First Class Arseni Nokiv, heavy grenadier, portrayed by Eduard Mijatović
• Private Angjelko Matliev, ammo carrier, portrayed by Hratch Samuelian
• Corporal Hrayr Sandrui, team leader, portrayed by Haro Mkrtchyan
• Private First Class Blazhe Merakovski, rifleman, portrayed by Igor Rozman
• Private Kliment Mitkov Bukhalov, rifleman, portrayed by Grigori Sashov Dimitrov
• Corporal Todor Miroslvov Valerieva, vehicle commander, portrayed by Miroslav Pognochev
• Private Yorgos Atsev, vehicle driver, portrayed by Jamin Ilievski
• Private First Class Marin Debeljak, vehicle gunner, portrayed by Nicolaos Kainowski
• Private First Class Emil Micallef, heavy grenadier, portrayed by Serije Kochevski (first appearance Episode 4)
• Private First Class Bared Kellejian, rifleman, portrayed by Sisag Cholakian (first appearance Episode 5)
• Private Blagun Georgiev Hadjiivanov, rifleman, rifleman, portrayed by Apostol Zdravkov Vranchev (first appearance Episode 8)

Format

The series consists of ten episodes told in chronological order from near the beginning of the war to a few days after its ends. The episodes are sequenced to coincide with the duration of the war, but the timeframe each episode takes place in varies from a single day to several weeks. The series features no soundtrack; rather popular songs from the era and prior are sung a cappella by the characters intermediately throughout the series.

Describing the series as "part-documentary, part-drama, part-comedy," Director Duska Dimitroska has said the series intended to focus on the experiences of the soldiers as a group of people rather than as a military force. Combat scenes are relatively uncommon, with most of the show focusing on the dialouge between the characters and how their relations with one another develop over the war. According to writer Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova, the show was not intended to be "pro or anti-anything; it's just the experience these men had during this time".

While an overarching theme is not present for most the series, a common element for each episode features a debate between the squad members, usually on topics unrelated to the war such as favorite cuisine or the best dog breeds.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	"Mobilized"	Duska Dimitroska]	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	May 23, 2020 (2020-05-23)
Junior Sergeant Domagoj Matkovićm is given command of Second Squad, 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 4th Battalion, 491st Motorized Brigade in late June 2008. Second Squad, assigned to a Notus armored personnel carrier known as Danjama, is a mixture of recent recruits, active duty troops, and reservists mobilized in the wake of the outbreak of the Zemplen War. While negotiations led by the OTN attend to stop the fighting between Ruvelka and Syara, Second Squad struggles to become mission capable due to a shortage of spare parts and equipment caused by the rapid mobilization of the Syaran Commonality Armed Forces. The squad consists of Matkovićm, his machinegunner Private First Class Soposki, heavy grenadier PFC Arseni, ammo carrier Private Matilev and his two teams; the maneuver element commanded by Cproral Sanduri, Privates Merakovski and Bukhalov, and the Danjama commanded by Corporal Vlerieva, driven by Private Astev, and gunned by Private Dbeljak. Expectations that the conflict will be over before it starts are dashed when their platoon is informed that negotiations have failed. During the night they move out in convoys closer to the Ruvelkan border.
2	"Over the top"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	May 30, 2020 (2020-05-30)
Second Squad takes part in the August Offensive, although it spends most of the operation pulling rear security. The squad moves over the ancient battlefield Nemaro, leading to a debate over how many wars Syara has fought in. Along with the rest of the 49th Motorized Division 2nd Squad advances behind the main body, resulting in a pattern of war consisting mostly of stopping and starting their vehicle. During the middle of the night the Squad is suddenly informed their battalion will be conducting a flanking action against Ruvelkan forces near the city of Balatonalmádi, leading to a rapid night maneuver that nearly results in a vehicle collision with a tank. Delta Company eventually reaches the city outskirts and engages Ruvelkan forces amid residential buildings. PFC Nikov fires a rocket at what the squad thinks is a Ruvelkan armored car before the company assaults through, clearing the Ruvelkans from the building. After securing the area the squad discovers the armored car was a civilian vehicle carrying a family of three; among the dead is a child. The squad debates whether to report the incident to higher headquarters before Nikov attempts to shoot himself, leading Corporal Sandruni to remove the firing pin from Arseni's rifle. Matkovićm decides to inform Lt. Kozbašić, commander of 3rd Platoon, who surveys the situation and publicly concludes that the squad did not intentionally violate the rules of engagement. Privately Kozbašić takes Matkovićm aside and warns him that another similar incident and Kozbašić would have him court-martialed. The squad moves on from Balatonalmádi and concludes that Syara has fought in more wars than necessary.
3	"Into the Breach"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	June 6, 2020 (2020-06-06)
Second Squad spends a few days at the front line, most of which is quiet. During the night heavy artillery fire prevents much of the squad from sleeping. After weeks of living out of Damjana the squad has grown accustomed to living amongst one another. The squad's relative comfort is broken up by orders they will be taking up defensive positions to protect the brigade's artillery guns. The tasking soon proves frustrating for the squad, who detest being forced to conduct "battery babysitting". After four days of uneventful shelling, Ruvelkan Imperial Fusiliers infiltrate the Syaran position at night. Private Nikov attempts to defend himself, but his weapon is unable to function with the firing pin still removed and he is killed. The rest of the squad kills three of the Ruvelkan infiltrators, but not before three artillery pieces are sabotaged and ruined. The squad expects to be punished for their failure to protect the battery, but the onset of Operation Hippikon results in the entire affair being forgotten as Delta Company is rushed back into front line service. They successfully assist the brigade in overrunning a Ruvelkan infantry regiment, and are tasked with recovering intel from what remained of the Ruvelkan headquarters after it had been shelled by Syaran artillery.
4	"Winter Mayhem"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	June 13, 2020 (2020-06-13)
2nd Battalion is rotated back to the rear after four weeks of front line service, during which the squad saw intermittent contact with the Ruvelkan military, which appears to be in retreat. Most of the squad believes its a sign that they will be home in time for the Winter Solstice celebrations, and receives Private First Class Emil Micallef to replace Nikov. While most believe the war will soon be over, Corporal Sandruni believes the Ruvelkans will attack again. His claims prove prophetic when the Ruvelkan Winter Counter-Offensive is launched, which results in the brigade being forced back into the front to attempt to stem the Ruvelkan advance. The squad engages elements of the Ruvelkan Imperial Army as they attempt to cross a river, resulting in the destruction of three Ruvelkan armored vehicles. The squad captures two Ruvelkan soldiers, both women, one younger and one older. Sergeant Matkovićm tries to hand off the prisoners to the military police, but is informed by Senior Sergeant Hadjiivanov, the platoon senior NCO, that none are available. The squad takes up positions along the river, but during the evening the older Ruvelkan prisoner attempts to escape and is shot by another soldier in the platoon. Matkovićm orders Merakovski to guard the remaining prisoner while the rest of the squad rotates to sleep during the night. They are later awakened to discover Merakovski in the middle of sexually assaulting the Ruvelkan POW. Matkovićm has Corporal Valerieva and Private First Class Debeljak take the Ruvelkan back to the Company headquarters and keep her there while the rest of the squad proceeds to beat Merakovski, which results in him having to spend two days with the battalion's medical staff. Matkovićm debates what to do with Merakovski when he returns, but ultimately the squad is ordered to move out with the rest of the brigade before anything more can be done.
5	"Spring Cleaning"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	June 13, 2020 (2020-06-13)
Despite an armored division's punishing response to First Recon's intelligence-gathering about an ambush-in-waiting at a strategic bridge, Bravo still meets stiff resistance while making several attempts to cross it; a survey of the battlefield prompts more questions than answers about the enemy; a roadblock in Al Muwaffiqiyah tests the Marines' ever-changing rules of engagement.
6	"Sagerejo"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	June 20, 2020 (2020-06-20)
After First Recon is assigned the unfamiliar mission of escorting hundreds of civilians fleeing Baghdad, they begin to wonder if their part in the war may be ending. Lt. Col. Ferrando has other plans to get his men back into the battle.
7	"Red Leaves"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	June 27, 2020 (2020-06-27)
Having reached Baghdad, Bravo Company is shocked at the size of the city; while First Recon begin doing their daily patrols in Baghdad, they find out the obstacles that they and the Iraqis face are much greater than they could have imagined.
8	"Winter of their discontent"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	July 4, 2020 (2020-07-04)
Having reached Baghdad, Bravo Company is shocked at the size of the city; while First Recon begin doing their daily patrols in Baghdad, they find out the obstacles that they and the Iraqis face are much greater than they could have imagined.
9	"How little we know"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova	July 11, 2020 (2020-07-11)
Having reached Baghdad, Bravo Company is shocked at the size of the city; while First Recon begin doing their daily patrols in Baghdad, they find out the obstacles that they and the Iraqis face are much greater than they could have imagined.
10	"End of the Line"	Duska Dimitroska	Nayda Kaloyanova Karavelova}	July 18, 2020 (2020-07-18)
Having reached Baghdad, Bravo Company is shocked at the size of the city; while First Recon begin doing their daily patrols in Baghdad, they find out the obstacles that they and the Iraqis face are much greater than they could have imagined.