Matroesjka's

Each year hundreds of women are taken from their homes and forced into a life of prostitution and sexual slavery. This is the story of ten of them. A Belgian criminal gang head east to Lithuania to recruit young women desperate to leave their impoverished lives. Promising a glamorous life as members of a stage dance troupe, the girls are eager to sign up. From the tra... Read all

Genre: Crime, Drama

Cast:Axel Daeseleire , Manou Kersting , Indre Jaraite , Luk Wyns , Peter Van den Begin , Veerle Dejonghe , Tom Van Dyck , Hilde Heijnen , Evgenia Brik , Frank Aendenboom , Peter Thyssen , Zemyna Asmontaite , Stany Crets , Dirk van Dijck , Chalita Chaisaeng , Viktorya Kosova , Lyubov Tolkalina , Tharinee Songkiatthana

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ Episode #1.1

Wed, Jan 5, 2005

Women trader Ray Van Mechelen and his companion Mark Camps organize dance auditions in Vilnius, Lithuania. They claim to be recruiting dancers for touring the top nightclubs in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany. A local 'talent scout' is hired to keep up the appearances and win the trust of the candidates. Meanwhile, the bodies of two Russian prostitutes are found near Antwerp in Belgium. All traces lead back to the gang of Ray Van Mechelen. The police interrogates a henchman of Van Mechelen, Mike Simons, who is willing to talk, but he wants guarantees that he will receive witness protection. Police inspector Clem De Donder does not believe him. In Vilnius, Belgian research journalist Nico Maes tries in vain to stop some girls to go into 'business' with Van Mechelen. Suspicion arises with Kasandra, one of the candidates, when Van Mechelen wants her to sign an artist contract in Greek language. She contacts the local police, but her best friend Daria wants to leave Lithuania at all costs. She signs the contract and hands over her passport to Mark Camps.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ Episode #1.2

Wed, Jan 12, 2005

On the Greek island of Cyprus, the recruited dancers take part in 'dance education sessions', and all illusions of a bright and fortunate future disappear for the girls. The gang of Van Mechelen forces the girls to striptease dance in a local nightclub. Olga and Deborah however manage to escape. Mike Simons reports at the police station in Antwerp and provides information about the criminal activities of Van Mechelen and his gang. Inspector De Donder however remains remarkably skeptical, and denies Simons witness protection. Journalist Nico Maes publishes a revealing article about women trafficking and the laxity of the Belgian police to do something about this issue. Vincent Dockx, son of godfather John Dockx, gets arrested in connection with the murder on the two Russian prostitutes. Ray van Mechelen gets nervous and intervenes.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Episode #1.3

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

The police quickly finished the investigation on the murder of Mike Simons. After Mike's death, Esther has no other choice than to move in with Jan Verplancke. Laura suspects Clem De Donder that he passes police information to the criminal organization of Ray Van Mechelen. The new Eastern European girls finally arrive in Antwerp, but they are not allowed to leave Studio 69, the nightclub of the criminal organization. Van Mechelen explains the girls clearly what he expects from them. It goes terribly wrong on the first evening already, when Deborah attacks one of the customers of the nightclub. The gang decides to sell her, as she gives too much troubles.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ Episode #1.4

Wed, Jan 26, 2005

The gang picks up Russian girl Inga from a bar in Limburg and brings her back to Studio 69. Inga was brought to Belgium some time ago, in a previous batch of girls from Eastern Europe. Kalinka is not amused at all about Inga's return to Studio 69. Daria convinces Nico Maes to smuggle a letter from her outside the nightclub. However, he gets caught in the process. As long as Deborah refuses to have sex with her new 'owner', she remains imprisoned on the attic. John Dockx finds out that Jan Verplancke lets Esther work for him in a bar, which is against the rules. Ray and Vincent Dockx decide to visit him and teach him a lesson.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ Episode #1.5

Wed, Feb 2, 2005

The gang wants to sell six girls to a Dutch nightclub owner. Marc Camps has to negotiate about the price, but he allows himself to get bribed. The police organizes a raid in Studio 69, but the gang was informed of this ahead of time. Kalinka and Inga are taken to the police station for interrogation. The position of inspector Clem De Donder gets untenable. Even his partner Laura does not trust him anymore. Esther picks up her stuff at Jan Verplancke, but he wants revenge.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Episode #1.6

Wed, Feb 9, 2005

Irina hides at the residence of Peter Jones, the club's handyman. His wife is very upset with Irina's presence and calls the police. Inspector Clem De Donder is being suspended by the Internal Affairs department. His managers suspect him to have connections with the criminal gang of Van Mechelen. Meanwhile, Jan Verplancke is recruited back into the gang, and allowed to participate in the gang activities. Journalist Nico Maes again publishes a revealing article, this time on the front page of the newspapers. The gang gets very nervous about this publicity. Ray recruits Esther to put a tap on Nico.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ Episode #1.7

Wed, Feb 16, 2005

The girls now are 3 months in Belgium, and the police is watching all the activities around Studio 69 very close. Customers leaving the premises are systematically subjected to search, and in the end, the customers simply stay away. The gang gets in problems because of the lack of income. Ray asks Jan Verplancke to start up an escort service agency, to generate some profit. A customer falls in love with Eva, and wants to take over her contract. After a fight with the police, Ray and Vincent are arrested.

8Season 1

S1.E8 ∙ Episode #1.8

Wed, Feb 23, 2005

Ray and Vincent increasingly disagree with the way how business should be done within the club. Vincent intents to kick Ray out as a business partner. To accomplish this, he proposes lucrative deals to Jan and Eddy. Daria's savings money is missing, and the other girls suspect Deborah to be the thief. Wim Wilson bought Eva's contract and starts a relationship with her. His parents are not happy when Eva is introduced to them. When Vincent abuses Kalinka, he gets into a big conflict with Ray.

9Season 1

S1.E9 ∙ Episode #1.9

Wed, Mar 2, 2005

Three months have passed. Eva has a small job in a fast food bar. Nico Maes eventually persuades Eva into a conversation with police inspector Sierens. But Eva is too stubborn to file a complaint against the gang. Since the incident between Ray and Vincent, the business relationship between Ray and John has cooled down a lot. The trust amongst the gang members has disappeared completely. Daria finds out that her best friend Kasandra was killed in Vilnius, by command of Ray. Multiple girls are arrested at the club, as there seems to be problems with their visa. Eddy and Ray are arrested as well, and are being accused of women trafficking, violence and working as pimps.

10Season 1

S1.E10 ∙ Episode #1.10

Wed, Mar 9, 2005

After the funeral of John Dockx, Vincent and Ray have a very difficult conversation together. Vincent offers Ray a very unexpected proposition. Eddy is getting increasingly confined by now. He is being accused of accounting fraud. Ray suddenly breaks up his relationship with Kalinka. She feels humiliated by his actions, and is looking for revenge. A good way of hurting him is by using her knowledge about the criminal activities of Ray and his gang.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ Episode #2.1

Thu, Nov 30, 2006

The return of the Belgian drama set in the world of human trafficking. Ray Van Mechelen and Eddy Stoefs are released from jail after three years and discover their former partner-in-crime Jan Verplancke took all their money and is running a strip-bar in Thailand. Starring Peter Van den Begin, Luk Wijns and Axel Daeseleire. In Flemish.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Episode #2.2

Sat, Nov 10, 2007

The two Russian girls, Nastya and Sveta, arrive in Belgium only to find out that all the rosy promises were a lie. Sels refuses a deal and Morozov's men trash his club, kidnap all the girls found there and force them into street prostitution.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Episode #2.3

Fri, Apr 25, 2008

Ray flies to Ukraine to buy new girls and impresses Morozov, while Sveta manages to escape from the club and goes to the police. In Dutch, Flemish, English, Lithuanian and Russian.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Episode #2.4

Fri, May 2, 2008

A brutal murder shakes up the criminal underworld, while Sels punishes Sveta for her attempted escape. In Dutch, Flemish, English, Lithuanian and Russian.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ Episode #2.5

Fri, May 9, 2008

Alyona and Yana run away from Morozov, Thip and Pat escape from the farm, and Danny is nearly murdered by Morozov's henchmen. Stars Indre Jaraite, Luk Wyns and Axel Daeseleire.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ Episode #2.6

Fri, May 16, 2008

Sels snaps when Morozov pushes him too far, while the police have some questions for Inesa.

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ Episode #2.7

Fri, May 23, 2008

Sels blames Jan for the Bulgarian debacle and demands he find 10 girls in one week or pay him back 16,000 euros.

8Season 2

S2.E8 ∙ Episode #2.8

Fri, May 30, 2008

Sels is dissatisfied with the girls Jan has brought back from Romania, while Danny and Eddie have a run-in with the police.

9Season 2

S2.E9 ∙ Episode #2.9

Fri, Jun 6, 2008

Nastya attempts to escape, while Thip and Pat blackmail Eddie and Jan to get enough cash to return to Thailand.

10Season 2

S2.E10 ∙ Episode #2.10

Fri, Jun 13, 2008

Nastya tries to get away from a gang of thugs, and pays for Dasha's treatment with Sels' money.