In January, Dinara Garipov's crime drama with a truly 'golden' cast was released. Such a titled ensemble has not been seen in one project for a long time. But was the game worth the candle and did the series 'Prelest' turn out to be something worthwh...

'Prelest' – The Story of a Small Town, but a Whole World

The events unfold in a provincial town that people simultaneously call cursed and blessed. The town is known for a city-building plant built back in Soviet times, which still operates successfully today.

The main character, Tsygan, who just turned 25, makes a living by stealing cars, but only from those he believes deserve it. Tsygan (Fyodor Fedotov) considers the death of his father, whom he lost twenty years ago, the main injustice of his life. All this time, the hero is driven by a thirst for revenge; he dreams of finding the culprits and making them answer for his loved one's death. One day, the town's unofficial master, former plant director Leonid Maksimovich (Oleg Menshikov), arrives. Their meeting with Tsygan will be a turning point and affect the fate of both. At the epicenter will be a brutal confrontation between Leonid Maksimovich and Osinsky (Filipp Yankovsky).

Golden Cast

On screen, the viewer sees a small number of actors, but each appearance is a bright performance. This often manifests in dialogues, subtle and insightful, where not a second can be missed.

Each episode begins as if with a sermon from Leonid Maksimovich and a gradual immersion into the events of the distant but now fashionable 90s. And right up to the last episode, it is unclear what exactly happened at the gold production plant that caused all the commotion.

Besides the main acting triangle (Fedotov-Yankovsky-Menshikov), it is pleasant to see Maxim Konovalov returning to the screens. His character Buba prevents boredom during viewing, and his loyalty to Menshikov's character is admirable. Like a faithful dog, he is ready to protect his master and does so with ease, jokes, and almost gangster charm. You will look forward to his character's appearance in every scene.

Why 'Prelest' Deserves Attention

The narrative clearly resembles a Greek tragedy, in the spirit of the story of King Oedipus, or a Shakespearean drama. And if desired, one can even discern the motifs and mood of 'The Count of Monte Cristo'.

Menshikov's character here appears in the image of a spirit of vengeance. Each time he appears, slightly hunched, and slowly, as if casting a spell, narrates his revenge. His movements, words, and actions are truly mesmerizing.

Buba, being a typical 90s thug, acts according to the rules and laws of the time, acting as a voice of reason in this world of chaos. The finale for his character is the most striking of all.

Each participant in the crime from the distant past in the series seems to embody a separate sin that Tsygan must confront to learn about his father. Interestingly, Yankovsky's character appears before us as a frightened ruler, tenderly and reverently loving his daughter, upon whom the sword of retribution suddenly falls. He tries to justify himself in every way and evokes only pity.

The younger generation is no less interesting – Tsygan himself, Osinsky's daughter Arina (Elizaveta Kononova), and Maxim, a representative of the town's golden youth. The main character, like Hamlet, wants revenge and the truth about his father's death. He lives by his own principles and uses any methods to achieve his goals.

The role of Lyosha Tsygan is simply a gift for me. This guy is a car thief, closed, quiet, silent, stern, always in black. For me, this is a completely unexpected role. I did not think that such an approval would happen in my life, and all the work on this role became a very important acting experience for me.

In addition to interesting characters, 'Prelest' boasts a stylish visual with Gothic interiors and a oppressive atmosphere of a hopeless future.

About the Project's Drawbacks

There is perhaps one drawback, but it greatly affects the perception of the series – the format. Six episodes turned out to be too many. Sometimes the plot drags on without revealing anything. The love triangle of the younger generation evokes no emotions, and many secrets of the past remain secrets. This creates an unpleasant feeling of understatement. With such a long runtime, one wants more of Tsygan's life story and his dealings, how various machinations took place, how Osinsky came to power. And about the life of the town in general, one would also like to know more – sometimes it seems that only six characters live in it, whom we see on screen.

If you watched 'Prelest' all at once, you are lucky. If you followed the project as episodes were released, the story might have become tiresome. There is even a suggestion that the ideal solution for this plot would have been a regular 90-minute film.

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