Slovo patsana. Krov na asfalte

An accurate representation of a lost generation.

This is a perfect illustration of that time, the music(really sets the mood through the movie), the atmosphere, the friendship, the injustice, the language and the gangs. This movie is filmed with movement, atmosphere and colour. The show shows how although the gangs are dangerous, aggressive, violent and sometimes unnecessary they have history behind them. Kids back then were alone, parents didn't spend much time and kids were stuck with a lot of spare time so they made gangs with other people like them, eventually this was cemented in teenage lives and many people were scarred by these gangs. This show shows how you have to understand one's life before judging them, all the people in this show had reason for their actions, in reality the kids are nice and genuine but misunderstood by society causing an imbalance between them and adults. Another aspect of the movie is death, how it was a common occurrence back then in gangs. Each time someone passed away in this show it's conveyed in a very touching, vivid, real and impactful manner. In conclusion this show reveals the sad reality of back then and nowadays truth is something we can rarely find, that's why I respect and appreciate this show.

A realistic depiction of what was happening in Russia in the 80s and 90s. If you know people who lived there during that time, they will basically tell you the same thing. Good actors must also be familiar with the street life to better understand the series. Characters of interest essentially show how everyone looks out for their own interests within every part of society and how everyone reveals their true selves in difficult situations they face. The same music repeats at various points throughout the episodes. At first, it seems tedious, but watching the series as a whole, it feels fitting. I could say it's akin to the lives of the heroes, where every day repeats like a cycle that keeps narrowing until each hero's catharsis arrives.

This series is great in everything, entertaining and all but i need for them to add subtitles in english atleast because its hard for me to understand, im from Czechia and im learning russian but it would help me improve if they would add the subtitles and for lot of people too because theres a lot of people from other countried that want to watch it and understand it, all my friends that dont speak it tried to undestand it but they cant because its too hard for them, i understand that and all. (i know its hard to translate russian to english because of the slang but its should be done somehow)

It is very hard to comprehend one man's struggles without being in his shoes. I want to apologize for my English, I used to skip those English classes back in the 80s. I will not lie or create a big story of my review but I'll tell you this. I was born at one time like that, I grew up during those times, on a similar street, similar school, same lifestyle but in a different part of the USSR. Yes, our life was going around three places, school, street and our flat/parents (oh and yes "podval/underground). Our parents had enough on their plate so we never saw them, they worked hard only to lose everything in 1991. Many mothers committed suicide, and fathers drank themselves and slept outside apartment doors in soiled clothing, slowly coming to an end. It was an era of big government workers driving in their Volga's who had salami in their fridges and the rest of us. Kids used to play "seagulls" meaning storming the fridge of the friend who got such parents. We used to play "fanticki" It's a game you hit with your palm on top of chewing gum wrap to collect it. I didn't see that game in this movie, maybe producers would include it in the future seasons of this show (I hope). Do you remember guys we used to say ching gis han, chin giz han sitting on the cold concrete stairs of your school, on a break, playing your Contra or Terminator cool colourful chewing gum wraps, you hit with your palm on top of the stash and what falls on one side is yours if not your opponent gets it? The same was for everything else, the old can of Pepsi or Coca-Cola collection on a wall, or the plokat/poster of the Kino rock group. If you got a new bicycle, some older "starshiki" older guys come to you like "Hey cho takoi bike you have, give it to me for one day to ride around". Next, you see that bike being traded outside of "rayon, ulitsa/street/block" bye-bye bicycle. You come home without the bike, Dad gets mad and beats you with his leather belt from his pants, and your mother is crying, covering you with her body. Then you stand in the "ugl" corner of the room for hours paying your debts. Starsheki/pahani what we used to call older guys, always come to get something from you, but we were never angry, it was kind of one region, everyone knew each other like a brother to brother. I knew one day starsheki would save me when some fat boy from a higher grade came to me in the washroom to take my chewing gum or money etc. Later, pink blazers/malinivie pidjaki started coming up, stores with Asian chewing gums, videotape recorder TV centers yes just like in the movie, you pay 1 ruble and watch a movie with 30 guys. The new Asian 8-bit game consoles replaced old Russian tape loud-noise gaming machines. Hi-Tek 8-bit gaming console with yellow cartridges you stick on the top of a gray console "pristavka" we called them. After watching this TV series I have so many memories back in my head, now in my late age I feel like I lost those memories forever. Slova patsana opened the long shut door to the dusty soviet era memory section in my brain, I wish you'd have the same result. Like oh my goodness the music, Nochnoe Rondevu Chris Kelmi, Lambada just because of this show now I have collected all of those old tracks. The 80s were very difficult for the USSR, and the 90s were even harder. With perestroika came fast money, someone made millions by selling "okorochka" chicken legs, then he was shot in the hallway of his building. Some made quick money by opening gas stations, if they didn't pay "za krishu" for cover, then it was the same experience for them too, one shot from a TT pistol and killed men found all over the city/country. The new "kommersant" and "blotnie", tv news used to call them. Sometimes it was a single man hit, other times the whole family paid the price. People got killed during the late 80,90 and 2000s "pachkami" lots" they used to say.

For everyone who grows up during those times, this movie will be back to the past on "mashina vremeni"/ a time machine. For everyone else, I doubt you'd understand it. We live in a world where movies like Barbie make one man billion-dollar richer. On the other part of the globe, kids sniff shoe glue so their tummies won't hurt. I guess many people grow up with Barbie dollhouses, for the rest of us, we have the "Word of a Boy/Slovo Patsana" TV series. It is a different world we are living in right now, those who made it through the old years are super rich and their kids live in the UK England. Others who have tried to get to the truth are long gone and bear a heavy stone on top of 6 feet under. Many good people perish fighting for a better future. I celebrate this movie with memories of all fallen good souls wherever you are in this world, and their loved ones, families, and friends. I wish the world to become a better, cleaner place without bullying, hate or aggression. I wish that one day your kids would go to school, and later work without fear, and the world will be a fair, honest, place full of love and laughter.

P. S.

Ya vernus' - Igor Talkov, Blood Type - KINO, Good Night - KINO.

These three songs are from two songwriters from that era, if you translate the lyrics you'd think they were the type of silent movement of the "change for the better" artists, Igor Talkov as Victor Tsoi/KINO like many artists from those years died under strange circumstances. I hope that songs from those artists will be included in the future seasons of the TV series.

The series covers the so called "The Kazan phenomenon" of the teenager gangs of Tatarstan of 1970s-2020s. I moved to Kazan in the 90s when the "Asphalt wars" period had already been over, but I know many things about it anyway as I still live here and I can confirm the screenplay is very accurate in details. It's also incredibly well shot and played. I would only add that among the characters pictured there are too many ethnic Russians. The real gangs were of mixed ethnic origin of course, but the majority of members, especially the leaders, were Tatars. I highly recommend watching it for everyone and not just for those who want to learn more about the late Soviet Union and why it broke up.