Michael Lockshin

A struggling writer in 1930s Soviet Moscow finds his life transformed when a mysterious professor arrives with his bizarre entourage, including a wisecracking trickster, a deadly assassin, a vampire maid, and a giant talking black cat, turning the city upside down while exposing the hypocrisy of those in power.

1899, the Christmas-time St.Petersburg. Ice-covered rivers and canals of the capital seethe with festive activities. On the eve of the new century those who should not be destined to meet, come together. They are people from different worlds: Matvey, the son of a lamplighter, whose only treasure is his silver-plated skates; Alice is the daughter of a high-ranking official dreaming of science. Each of them has his own difficult life-story, but having accidentally met they rush forward together in pursuit of their dreams.

An affluent Hollywood producer spends a pleasant afternoon by the hot tub with his ex-lover, whom he hasn't seen in years, while his friend - a renown photographer - takes headshots of her teenage daughter in the room nearby. It's just another leisurely afternoon. Or isn't it...

A struggling writer in 1930s Soviet Moscow finds his life transformed when a mysterious professor arrives with his bizarre entourage, including a wisecracking trickster, a deadly assassin, a vampire maid, and a giant talking black cat, turning the city upside down while exposing the hypocrisy of those in power.

1899, the Christmas-time St.Petersburg. Ice-covered rivers and canals of the capital seethe with festive activities. On the eve of the new century those who should not be destined to meet, come together. They are people from different worlds: Matvey, the son of a lamplighter, whose only treasure is his silver-plated skates; Alice is the daughter of a high-ranking official dreaming of science. Each of them has his own difficult life-story, but having accidentally met they rush forward together in pursuit of their dreams.

An affluent Hollywood producer spends a pleasant afternoon by the hot tub with his ex-lover, whom he hasn't seen in years, while his friend - a renown photographer - takes headshots of her teenage daughter in the room nearby. It's just another leisurely afternoon. Or isn't it...

An affluent Hollywood producer spends a pleasant afternoon by the hot tub with his ex-lover, whom he hasn't seen in years, while his friend - a renown photographer - takes headshots of her teenage daughter in the room nearby. It's just another leisurely afternoon. Or isn't it...

An affluent Hollywood producer spends a pleasant afternoon by the hot tub with his ex-lover, whom he hasn't seen in years, while his friend - a renown photographer - takes headshots of her teenage daughter in the room nearby. It's just another leisurely afternoon. Or isn't it...