Zlatá labuť

Zlatá labuť (English title: The Department Store, literally The Golden Swan) is a Czech television series written and produced by Filip Bobiňski, Jan Coufal and Petr Šizling. It was created by Dramedy Productions for TV Nova. First episode premiered on Voyo on 26 January 2023. It is set in the department store of the era of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Starring Marta Dancingerová, Beáta Kaňoková, Simona Lewandovská, Kristýna Ryška, Adam Vacula, Robert Mikluš, Petr Kostka, Daniela Kolářová, Tomáš Töpfer, Michaela Maurerová and others. The series was renewed for season 2 which started shooting in May 2023. First season had average rating 820,000 (21.2% share). The series was renewed for third and final season.

Synopsis
Bára Veselá is constantly pursued by bad luck and is on the run from the law. By chance, she unwillingly becomes a salesperson for the fashion department at the newly opened department store, Zlatá labuť (Golden Swan). This store is a magnificent palace of luxury and is a new modern landmark in the center of Prague. The store holds a rich history behind its opulent storefronts. It is March 15, 1939, and German occupation forces are invading the Czechoslovakian state. Zlatá labuť is ruled by the Kučera family led by uncompromising patriarch of the family Rudolf. His wife Božena provides the calm strength of the family. They have a daughter and two sons. The oldest is Rudolf jr. who is confined to a wheelchair after polio while the youngest is Petr. Petr is a somewhat troubled family rebel who finds liking in Bára. However, their sister Irena is an intriguer and lover of luxury and power. She lives in an estranged relationship with her husband Lukáš. Irena is decided to fight for the leadership of the family clan.

Production
First season was filmed in 2022 and 2023. It was produced by Dramedy Production and directed by Braňo Holiček and Biser A. Arichtev. In Prague's Kbely, several sections of a department store were created on an area of over 2,500 square meters for filming. Filming concluded in January 2023 while series started broadcast on 2 February 2024. In May 2024 the season 2 started filming. Petr Nikolaev became third director of the series. Start of broadcast was set for 22 June 2023. In November 2023 shooting of season 3 was confirmed. Season 3 is the final season.

Cast and characters

 * Marta Dancingerová as Bára Veselá
 * Adam Vacula as Petr Kučera
 * Kristýna Ryška as Irena Mašková
 * Robert Mikluš as Lukáš Mašek
 * Beáta Kaňoková as Eva Dušková
 * Simona Lewandowská as Alena Zimová
 * Krystof Bartos as Martin Kantor
 * Marek Kristián Hochman as Jakub Vrána
 * Hana Kusnjerová as Valerie Horká
 * Ema Businská as Kristýna Malá
 * Vojtěch Vodochodský as Vojta
 * Jan Dolanský as Marek Záhor
 * Daniela Kolářová as Božena Kučerová
 * Petr Kostka as Rudolf Kučera
 * Petr Stach as Rudolf Kučera jr.
 * Kamila Trnková as Marta Franková
 * Pavel Řezníček as Václav Mach
 * Vasil Fridrich as Karel Wágner
 * Ladislav Hampl as Antonín Bouchner
 * Gabriela Míčová as Magdalena Praxlová
 * Tomáš Töpfer as Arne Pulkráb
 * Robin Ferro as Kamil Pulkráb
 * Adrian Jastraban as Vilém Maurer
 * Lucie Štěpánková as Anna Maurerová
 * Jacob Erftemeijer as Oldřich Skalský
 * Roman Vojtek as Vilém „Willy“ Brož
 * Jiří Bábek as Petr Dittrich
 * Jitka Sedláčková as Hana Dittrichová
 * Barbora Bočková as Markéta Dittrichová
 * Leona Skleničková as Ester Maurerová
 * Kamila Trnková as Marta Franková
 * Daniela Hirsh as Sára Hiršová
 * Michaela Maurerová as Kateřina Holá-Malá
 * Jiří Hána as Viktor Hess
 * Ivan Lupták as Viktor Šolc
 * Svatopluk Skopal as Josef Miller
 * Kristýna Badinková as Lucie Tichá
 * Adam Berka as Kryštof Tichý
 * Vlastimil Fojtášek as pplk. Falcky / Abraham Hirsh
 * Jaroslav Satoranský as Libor Kovář
 * Veronika Čermák Macková as Milada Dubská

Slovak adaptation
Markíza produced a series called Dunaj, k vašim službám (Dunaj, at your service) which is a Slovak version of Zlatá labuť.