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.
Пётр Мамонов
as Lyosha
Пётр Зайченко
as Shlykov
Наталья Коляканова
as Christina
Елена Сафонова
as Nina
Владимир Кашпур
as Old Nechiporenko
Сергей Газаров
as Administrator
Игорь Золотовицкий
as Petyunchik
Владимир Стержаков
as Musician in the Taxi
Сергей Галкин
as Hippy
Евгений Герчаков
as musician in the taxi
Dmitriy Prigov
as writer
Валерий Хлевинский
as Kolya
