Boris
2007
Original language: Italian
- comedy
The story
Boris is an Italian television series created by Luca Manzi and Carlo Mazzotta, initially produced from 2007 to 2010, with a revival season premiered in 2022. The show brings to the stage the behind the scenes of a television set where a troupe is shooting Gli occhi del cuore 2 (The eyes of the heart 2), a satirical portrait of the many fictions airing on the Italian TV networks.
What it’s like
Cramped, fluorescent-lit studio corridors, plywood sets, and handheld camera work that hovers close to people mid-argument give Boris the restless look of a real television production, with a bright, flat digital palette and a lot of rapid cutting between faces. The sound is mostly overlapping dialogue, phones ringing, and tense hallway chatter, with a light, bouncy theme underneath that makes the chaos feel brisk rather than grim. Its vibe is sharp, sarcastic, and amused: a workplace comedy where the mood swings from giddy to exasperated within a single scene. It suits a weeknight laugh, a binge on a lazy afternoon, or a second-screen watch while doing something else. Episodes move quickly, with the comedy coming from ego, petty rivalry, and the gap between what people say on camera and what they actually do off it. The intensity is low: some crude language and adult humour, no real violence, and no gore or fear. The people at its centre, a cynical director and an overworked crew, slowly reveal more vulnerability beneath the bluster. It is for viewers who enjoy satire of the entertainment industry and affectionate ridicule of Italian TV culture.
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