Watch TAXI BLUES

Taxi Blues is a 1990 drama film directed by Pavel Lungin that explores the unlikely friendship between a Moscow taxi driver and a Jewish musician. The movie is set in the late 1980s in Moscow, a time of social and economic turmoil as the Soviet Union began to crumble. The main character, Lyosha (Pyotr Mamonov), is a taxi driver struggling to make ends meet. He lives in a cramped apartment with his wife and two children and spends most of his time working, smoking, and drinking.

One day, Lyosha picks up a passenger named Sasha (Pyotr Zaychenko), a flamboyant and talented saxophonist who is Jewish. Despite their different backgrounds and lifestyles, the two men strike up an unlikely friendship based on their shared love of music.

As the story unfolds, the relationship between Lyosha and Sasha becomes increasingly complex. Sasha is struggling to make ends meet, and Lyosha offers him a place to stay in his apartment. At first, everything seems to be going well. Sasha and Lyosha play music together, and Sasha even gets Lyosha a gig at a local club.

However, tensions begin to arise when Lyosha's wife becomes jealous of Sasha and accuses him of corrupting her husband. Lyosha also becomes increasingly jealous of Sasha's talent and success, and their friendship begins to unravel.

The movie is notable for its strong performances from the lead actors. Pyotr Mamonov delivers a powerful and nuanced portrayal of Lyosha, a character torn between his loyalty to his family and his desire for something more meaningful in his life. Pyotr Zaychenko is equally impressive as Sasha, a character who is both charming and inscrutable.

Another standout aspect of the movie is its setting. Director Pavel Lungin masterfully captures the atmosphere of Moscow in the late 1980s, a city in flux as the Soviet Union teetered on the brink of collapse. The movie is shot in black and white, which adds to its gritty and raw feel.

Overall, Taxi Blues is a gripping drama that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and jealousy against the backdrop of a changing society. Its strong performances and evocative setting make it a must-see for fans of world cinema.

TAXI BLUES is a 1990 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.