Slovo pacana

An accurate representation of a lost generation. An unexpected blast from Russia set in the late 1980s from the gritty city of Kazan, where young siblings fight for territory. The entire series is interwoven with a spiral of violence and rough fights, where you are either a wimp bullied by everyone, or you become a man and join a gang where the rules are rough to the point of being a prisoner. The series focuses mostly on three characters: Andrei, who is initially bullied by everyone and decides to join a gang. Marat the bully and tough guy who undergoes a distinct and unexpected transformation, and his brother Vova, an older tough guy who returns from Afghanistan to be their leader. The series grabbed me from the very beginning, with its impressive retro atmosphere, well-acted and aptly chosen characters, sharp and gritty action, and I must also praise the soundtrack, which I instantly fell in love with as soon as it came on during a fight, I always got goosebumps. I also liked the romances of the three protagonists and the emotions. I really liked Andrei's mother, who is slowly breaking down mentally as her son changes before her eyes, that was quite a strong element for me. The series doesn't offer any major plot twists, but the faithful and chilling depiction of that time is absolutely perfect, and it makes me glad I didn't grow up in that world. I'd play this in schools too. Very good. The individual episodes rated with four stars, but the overall impression is five stars, as it's a powerhouse, and I haven't seen anything better from Russia. (20.02.2024)