A whole mosaic of locations that together create a unique atmosphere. The cities of Cherepovets, Novaya Ladoga, Staraya Ladoga, Vyborg, Gatchina, St. Petersburg, and Pskov became not just a backdrop for the events, but full-fledged participants in this grim story.
Cherepovets was chosen to create the atmosphere of an industrial city where the film's events unfold. The industrial landscape added a sense of hopelessness and alienation to the film's atmosphere, emphasizing the grim reality depicted in the picture.
Vyborg, with its medieval architecture and European charm, brought another interesting contrast to the film. The city's historical past added depth and multi-layeredness, creating a feeling of detachment from reality, as if the film's events take place not in Soviet reality, but in some other, fictional world.
Filming in Gatchina and St. Petersburg, with their rich historical and cultural heritage, added even more depth and versatility to the film. St. Petersburg, with its majestic architecture and imperial past, created a contrast to the grim events taking place in the film, while Gatchina, with its picturesque parks and palaces, contributed to creating the film's unique atmosphere.

Filming Locations:

Colonel Mikhail's Apartment

In the Movie

Scene where Colonel Mikhail meets at home with his brother, the head of a department, who helped his niece Lisa get into university. Misha just told him that his daughter went to her friend's dacha for a couple of days.

In Reality

The scene was filmed In Staraya Ladoga, not far from St. Petersburg. These places added a sense of depth and multi-layeredness to the film, creating a visual palette that emphasizes the contrast between external well-being and the inner darkness permeating the plot.

Local Club

In the Movie

Scene where Valera comes to relax at the local club, have a drink and dance. Here he meets Angelica, Lisa's friend, with whom they are going to the dacha the next day to relax.

In Reality

The scene was filmed In Staraya Ladoga. The filmmakers found an abandoned church, which was converted into a club for filming. The church used was the Clement Church in Novaya Ladoga. Also in these locations, scenes of the disco were filmed, which, according to viewers' memories, reminded them of discos at the Ladoga House of Culture from 1997–1999.

Dormitory with Alcoholics

In the Movie

Scene where Captain Zhurov receives a call on the police phone. They go out with the operational group to a communal apartment. Through the door they hear a woman crying and screaming. They have no choice but to break down the door and detain everyone in the apartment, one was even shot and warned that if anyone tells, they will be beaten to death.

In Reality

The scene was filmed The Cherepovets part of the film was shot over several days in a dormitory on Nekrasov Street, a local village, and one of the canteens of Severstal. The recognizable urban landscapes of the steel mill are in the film. Alexei Balabanov explained why he filmed in Cherepovets: "There are very beautiful places. Picturesque. In Cherepovets, however, not the entire film was shot, but only a very large episode of it." The film features recognizable Cherepovets: high-rise buildings and smoking chimneys of Severstal became the fictional city of Leninsky.