Taxi Blues
Ivan is old Russia: thick, dour, hard-working, often brutish; he misses Communism. He drives a taxi and one night meets Alexi, a new Russian, a musician, an alcoholic, irresponsible. Alexi stiffs Ivan for the fare, so Ivan tracks him down and a love-hate relationship ensues. When Alexi lets the bath water run over in Ivan's flat and Ivan must pay 500 rubles for repairs, he tries to force Alexi into day labor to repay him. It's hopeless. Then, suddenly, Alexi is discovered, goes on a jazz tour of America, becomes a celebrity, and returns in triumph. Ivan longs to renew the friendship, and it looks as if he may get what he wants.
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Cast
19 people
Pyotr Mamonov
Lyosha
Known for
The Island
Tsar
Pyotr Zaychenko
Shlykov
Known for
Pigs 2: The Last Blood
Iron & Blood: The Legend of Taras Bulba
Natalya Kolyakanova
Christina
Known for
Tycoon
Elena Safonova
Nina
Known for
Dark Eyes
Sherlock Holmes in the 20th Century
Vladimir Kashpur
Old Nechiporenko
Known for
Bastards
Ballad of a Soldier
Sergey Gazarov
Administrator
Known for
12
The Crew
Igor Zolotovitsky
Petyunchik
Known for
Collector
Faster Than Rabbits
Vladimir Sterzhakov
Musician in the Taxi
Known for
Metro
Sergey Galkin
Hippy
Also in
Naval Cadets, Charge!
The Lightkeeper
Evgeniy Gerchakov
musician in the taxi
Known for
Hard to Be a God
What a Mess!
Dmitriy Prigov
writer
Also in
Khrustalyov, My Car!
Enthusiast Highway
Valeri Khlevinsky
Kolya
Also in
Eternal Call
The Long Recess
Pavel Lungin Director · Andrei Zhegalov Cinematographer Denis Evstigneev Cinematographer
First release May 11, 1990 · Produced in Russia, France, Russia · Production La Sept Cinéma, Lenfilm
Production
Ask Soviet-American Films
Production
La Sept Cinéma
Production
Lenfilm
Production
MK2 Productions
Production
ASK Eurofilm
Production
Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée
Production
Russia · France · Russia
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Такси-блюз
Original language
Russian
Spoken on screen
Russian
Release dates
France · May 11, 1990
Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
No release date listed for United States.
France
October 17, 1990 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.