Ivan is old Russia: thick, dour, hard-working, often brutish; he misses Communism. He drives a taxi and one night meets Alexi, a new Russian, a musician, an alcoholic, irresponsible. Alexi stiffs Ivan for the fare, so Ivan tracks him down and a love-hate relationship ensues. When Alexi lets the bath water run over in Ivan's flat and Ivan must pay 500 rubles for repairs, he tries to force Alexi into day labor to repay him. It's hopeless. Then, suddenly, Alexi is discovered, goes on a jazz tour of America, becomes a celebrity, and returns in triumph. Ivan longs to renew the friendship, and it looks as if he may get what he wants.
Writer: Pavel Lungin
Director: Pavel Lungin
Producer: Alexandr Golutva, Pierre Rival, Marin Karmitz, Vladimir Repnikov, Mark Gekht, Sergey Shumakov, Olga Vasilyeva, Pavel Lungin
Director of Photography: Andrei Zhegalov, Denis Evstigneev
Lyosha
Shlykov
Christina
Nina
Old Nechiporenko
Administrator
Petyunchik
Musician in the Taxi