Production has wrapped on Aristocracy, the new family-centred horror series created by Iza Strehar and Žiga Virc. Shot between October and December, the tale unfolds within the walls of a decaying aristocratic castle, where long-suppressed family traumas linger as stubbornly as the damp air permeating its halls.

Conceived as an intense and atmospheric narrative, the entire story plays out over four days, heightening the sense of urgency and confinement. The characters are trapped not only inside the castle, but also under the weight of their own inherited histories. When four adult siblings return home for their sister’s wedding and to bid farewell to their dying grandfather, the reunion becomes a claustrophobic mix of family rules, old traditions and strange apparitions. Long-buried conflicts begin to surface. Chaotic wedding preparations and crumbling relationships expose the fragile facade of the family. The series is darkly funny, suspenseful and emotionally unsettling, and looks at how difficult it can be to escape what runs in our blood and how freeing it feels when we finally face it.

The cast includes Maruša Majer (Grandpa Goes South [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Urška Djukić
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The screenplay is penned by Strehar, while Virc sits in the director’s chair. The creative team includes director of photography Fabris Šulin (Shooting Blanks [+leggi anche:
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“We wanted to tell a story about the psychopathology of Slovenian families, about love, silence, guilt and the expectations passed down through generations as naturally as a family name,” note the creators. “Although the series is set in a crumbling castle, it reflects the present moment. Traditions, patriarchy and unresolved wounds still shape how we live today. Within the family environment, reality can shift into the grotesque, the uncanny or the things we prefer not to talk about.”

Virc elaborates: “Family dynamics become even more intense when the characters carry emotional baggage that originated many generations before them. Placing the story inside a historic aristocratic estate adds a strong visual metaphor. On the surface, everything looks rich and elegant, but in reality, the castle is run down, and full of mould and damp air. This is the essence of the series. Everyone wants to come together, but there is simply too much emotional weight on their shoulders, and things begin to fall apart.”

Strehar adds: “There are so many hidden traumas that move silently through generations. There is a saying in Slovenian folklore that every fourth woman falls down the stairs. It refers to a common cultural archetype of domestic violence that is never openly acknowledged, and yet everyone understands its meaning. We approached this subject with care and depth, not as a cliché, but as a deeply rooted psychological pattern that repeats itself inside families.”

Aristocracy is being produced by Strehar and Virc for Lilit, with Ivana Jurković serving as the line producer. Raye Spielberg is on board as associate producer, bringing an international perspective to the project. The series is co-financed by the Slovenian Film Centre. The release date is yet to be confirmed.