Ekaterina Smirnova

In a nostalgic Moscow of 1976, an unlucky actor meets a charismatic writer, a living classic of Soviet literature, who turns his life into a tragicomic farce with the artistic bohemia, foreign-currency prostitutes, the KGB staff and agents of the CIA.

Eight-year-old Nikolai suffers from a congenital illness that leaves him unable to walk or speak. His doctors and even his own mother, Tatyana, have given up hope of treating his ailment. When Tatyana’s new friend Yuri tries using his own physiotherapy techniques to treat Nikolai, he discovers that Nikolai has a gift for music and teaches him to play the piano. With every note he learns and every melody he masters, Nikolai’s condition improves. He not only gains mobility, he also becomes an outstanding musician. Nikolai and Yuri travel to China together to take part in a piano competition, with a view to taking the grand prize. This is a humor-packed story about the healing power of music and fatherly love.

A powerful life takeoff. A career breakthrough. A renewed passion in a relationship with a wonderful, smart, beautiful wife. Moving to the elite quarter, to the "thickets" of the local provincial paradise. Victor is showered with gifts of fate, he is happy to an incredible extent. Why is it so difficult for him to accept these gifts?

1942, Great Patriotic War. Returning from a mission, experienced snipers brothers Alexey and Yegor Broshin encounter the German high-class sniper Wengler. As a result of the duel, Yegor dies, and Alexey is seriously wounded and ends up in the hospital. Having barely recovered, he rushes to the front, but the medical board declares him unfit. Instead of returning to the front line, the command entrusts Alexey with an unusual task - to teach young female cadets how to be a sniper. Alexey undertakes to train his players harshly, sometimes even cruelly.