The best Maksim Konovalov’s crime movies

Corrupt cops, street gangs, "Bratki" in "Bummers" (BMWs) steal and "Merins" (Mercedeses), angry truck drivers, beautiful women and death are what four friends in a black Bummer who go on a mission from one region of Russia to another are about to face in the wasteland of small-town Russia. A critique of the policies of Boris Yeltsin, it depicted the economic crisis that followed Russia's transition towards a free market economy, and with it, a lost generation, with no job security, who are pushed into a world of crime and rebellion. Despite a modest budget of US$700,000, and a limited cinematic release, it became a national hit in Russia as well its soundtrack, popularized by 'Seryoga's' (Серёга) music video "Чёрный Бумер" ("Black Bummer"). Both the film and its soundtrack have won awards, including the prestigious Golden Aries from the Russian Guild of Film critics.

A gang of crooks robbing cash collectors, run into a police surveillance team and the inadequate police response results in a gunfight. A TV crew on assignment in the area happens to capture this humiliation on camera, and this example of police incompetence is soon the lead story in every news bulletin. Public confidence in law and order now suffers irreparable harm. The head of the Moscow force welcomes a public search-and-destroy operation against these thugs, the brainchild of Katya, his PR director. She proposes that the capture of this dangerous gang be transformed into a live TV show of a kind never seen before. At this point she cannot know that the gang leader's life-and-death struggle with the police is destined to lead to a media duel. Besieged in a huge apartment block, the crooks hold hostage a father and his son and daughter. A massive special forces rescue operation is mounted but fails miserably.

A wealthy pharmaceutical business owner, Edik is used to managing and controlling. But fate brings him an unexpected surprise. The unemployed artist Petrovich, who decided to say goodbye to life, falls from the roof of a skyscraper onto a brand new expensive businessman’s car. Is the miserable life of a loser worth that kind of money? Moreover, he will never be able to return them. But debt must be received at all costs, for Edik it is a matter of principle, forgiving others is not in his rules. Edik decides that Petrovich will work for him for free, he has every right to do so, because he is a real master of life. Or does he only think so, and everything can change at any second and turn over exactly the opposite?

Artem Semenov is a criminal investigation opera who is “married” to his work and, as a result, has problems directly in his family. Artem has close friends Nazarov and Petrovich, with whom he ate more than a pound of salt, on which he can rely on everything.