"Camouflaged War". Portuguese series 'Espias' premieres on RTP1

'E spias' is a production by the Portuguese Ukbar Filmes with Poland, directed by João Maia and Laura Seixas, based on an idea by the producer Pandora da Cunha Telles, which is related to the universe of the series 'A Espia' (2020), by the same producer and author.

"We're still in the Second World War, but Portugal is no longer in danger of being invaded. 'Spies' focuses on the now globalized fake spy networks. We no longer have just two spies, but seven. [...] Inspired by the real events of 1942 to 1945 and the lives of notable spies like Popov, Garbo, and Brutus, we brought to life a group of spies who will change the course of the war," the producer describes in the presentation of the work.

"On the edge of the Atlantic, Portugal seems like an oasis in Europe. It serves as a safe haven and hub for thousands of refugees," reads the book's synopsis. "In its casinos, hotels, and secret parties, a network of spies, recruited by MI6 [the British intelligence service], exchanges vital information to win the conflict. Their orders are to discover the positioning of German submarines in the Battle of the Atlantic and deceive the Nazis about the Allies' plans."

The reality of the time is ever-present in the fiction of 'Spies.' "Salazar continues to enrich the state coffers, selling tungsten to both the Allies and the Axis powers, and at ever-higher prices," the series' plot description continues. "Under pressure from both, [the dictator] tries not to give in, until he realizes which way the war will go. The Battle of the Atlantic begins to affect Portuguese vessels."

"On land, nothing appears to be neutral. A camouflaged war begins," and the spies "from both sides of the conflict, Barbara, Rose, Miss Black, among others, will influence the course of the war and of History!", concludes the synopsis.

'Espias' has seven episodes, was filmed in Figueira da Foz and Lisbon and has financial support from RTP, the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual, the Tourism and Cinema Support Fund, the municipality of Figueira da Foz and Krakow Film Klaster, Poland.

The cast includes Madalena Almeida, Maria João Bastos, Ana Vilela da Costa, Lúcia Moniz, Gabriela Barros, Kelly Bailey and Daniela Ruah, joined by names such as Adriano Carvalho, Adriano Luz and Diogo Morgado.

At the beginning of the year, this production was selected for preview at the Berlinale Series Market, a parallel market to the Berlin Film Festival, along with 17 other international productions with "greater market potential", with the aim of promoting its "greater visibility", and supporting "contact with international buyers and distributors", according to the German initiative.

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