Czech Television's New Series "Filter" Offers an Honest Look at Growing Up and a Gay Teen's First Love

Czech Television has launched a new six-part series called "Filter" — a drama about ninth-grader Matty, who falls for a boy named Radek while taking entrance exams for art school. The series is available on the ČT1 channel and on the iVysílání streaming platform.

The project is the latest work from screenwriter and director David Semler, aimed at the young audience of the iVysílání platform, following his earlier series TBH and "Vlastně se nic nestalo" ("Actually, Nothing Happened"). The lead role of Matty is played by Antonio Šoposki, while his love interest Radek is portrayed by Adam Buš. Complicating matters, Radek already has a girlfriend, Nikola, which makes the boys' relationship far from simple.

Not Your Typical Coming-Out Story

One of the series' key features is that it isn't a conventional coming-out narrative — Matty has already come out before the story begins. His mother (Marta Issová) fully supports him, while his grandmother (Simona Peková) has only half-accepted the fact and occasionally tries to set him up with girls, usually the granddaughters of her friends.

The show's creators depict a world where same-sex relationships are simply the norm. Matty has two close friends, Klára and Toňa. Toňa, who is also gay, meets older men online and seemingly earns money that way. All three teens stand at a crossroads when it comes to choosing their future studies — one dreams of grammar school, another has doubts about art school.

Characters More Complex Than They Appear

The characters gradually reveal themselves as multifaceted individuals with their own struggles. Radek initially comes across as manipulative, even bullying, but his character proves far more nuanced. Matty, by contrast, seems like a victim of circumstance, yet his own indecisiveness often gets in the way of resolving conflicts — partly rooted in childhood trauma, since he lost his father at a young age and was shunned by classmates afterward.

Part of the story unfolds during an adaptation camp, where gossip and prejudice spread quickly among new acquaintances, but genuine bonds form as well. The direction handles a large ensemble of characters — whose social hierarchy has yet to settle — with impressive skill.

A Sensitive Topic Without Preachiness

The series is bound to spark discussion: it focuses heavily on non-heterosexual relationships, and the proportion of LGBT characters is notably high for such a small cast. According to the creators, though, the goal isn't "propaganda" but an honest conversation about growing up. The show also touches on educational topics, including sexually transmitted infections, although its overall runtime of about two and a half hours demands a fairly condensed narrative.

The key strength of "Filter" is that the characters' sexual orientation isn't treated as the central problem or obstacle — their personal and family conflicts matter far more. At the same time, the creators don't shy away from acknowledging that life as a gay teenager can genuinely be harder. The series doesn't avoid dramatic turns, but it never veers into extremes, and important moments are often delivered casually, through everyday dialogue.

"Filter" is one of the rare Czech series capable of discussing teenage life in a language that speaks to both the characters' peers and their parents. The cast also includes Iva Zahrán, Daniel Šíp, Kryštof Hrdá, Johana Kiselová, Vojtěch Franc, and Julie Loutanová.

Read also: Free Czech language courses for foreigners: where to study

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz