Bolji život

Infobox Television
show_name = Bolji život


caption = Members of the Popadić family.
format = Family Drama, Comedy
picture_format =
runtime = 40 minutes
creator = Mihajlo Vukobratović
executive_producer = Nenad Romano
starring = Marko Nikolić
Svetlana Bojković
Boris Komnenić
Lidija Vukićević
Dragan Bjelogrlić
country = Flagicon|Yugoslavia SFR Yugoslavia
network = TV Belgrade
first_aired = January 6, 1987
last_aired = May 5, 1991
num_episodes = 82
num_seasons = 3
list_episodes =
imdb_id = 0090399
tv_com_id =
website =

"Bolji život" (Serbian Cyrillic: Бољи живот, English: "A Better Life") is an iconic Yugoslav soap-opera/sitcom that aired from 1987 to 1991. Created by the Radio Television of Serbia it is considered to be the most successful show as ever produced in Serbia. The show was written by Siniša Pavić, most filmed Serbian screenwriter. It helped start the careers of many actors and actresses who today are famous for their roles on this show.

History

"Bolji život" began airing on Radio Television of Serbia (then known as the Radio Television of Belgrade) on January 6, 1987. It started off with the theme song named "Bolji život" sung by Dado Topić and composed by Vojislav Voki Kostić. The theme song became extremely popular after its run on the successful series.

Plot

The show is based around the Popadić family and works through their struggles and adaptation to the rapid changes taking place in Yugoslavia. Some episodes are especially interesting and display these social changes. An example would be when all the women go on strike in a company because they are not happy with the rights they get within their union while the male director of company frantically tries to solve the situation and realises he can do nothing without these women.

The show also focuses on family relations, affairs and teen stupidity. The comedy often is created by the teen character Slobodan "Boba" Popadić (played by Dragan Bjelogrlić). The show can be described as a real life drama mixed with humorous adventures.

Cast

Popadić family

* Dragiša "Giga" Popadić (played by Marko Nikolić)
* Emilija "Ema" Popadić (played by Svetlana Bojković)
* Aleksandar "Saša-Guza" Popadić (played by Boris Komnenić)
* Violeta "Viki" Popadić (played by Lidija Vukićević)
* Slobodan "Boba" Popadić (played by Dragan Bjelogrlić)

Pavlović family

* Kosta Pavlović (played by Predrag Laković)
* Branka Pavlović (played by Ljiljana Blagojević)
* Mirko Pavlović (played by Miroslav Bijelić)
* Duda Pavlović (played by Ljiljana Sedlar)

Đorđević family

* Vlastimir Đorđević, MSc (played by Vlasta Velisavljević)
* Buba Radović-Đorđević (played by Olivera Marković)

Replays and ratings

The show has been rerun on RTS many times after its original run ended in 1991. In 2007 is was re-run once again on RTS1. The shown is sometimes re-ran in other parts of former Yugoslavia as well.

The show brought in huge ratings for the network during its dark days of the 1990s. In February 2007 the series was the third most watched show on television. 23,3% of the public tuned in to watch the repeats of the show.

ee also

* Radio Television of Serbia