Taxi Blues (1990)
Theatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Taxi Blues is a ground-breaking Russian film, one of the first to examine the rifts between the old Soviet Union and the post-communist Russian society. The movie concerns the friendship of an independent, alcoholic Jewish jazz musician named Liocha (Piotr Nikolajevitch Mamonov) and Schlikov (Pyotr Zaitchenko) a stern, conservative cabdriver. After Liocha doesn't pay Schlikov for a fare one evening, the cab driver tracks the musician down and takes his saxophone as payment. Despite his initial treatment of Liocha, Schlikov becomes fascinated by the musician and offers him a bed in his apartment. Eventually, the two strike up a friendship and Liocha gets a job in the taxi depot in order to pay off his debt. However, their friendship turn sour when Schlikov's girlfriend becomes smitten with the musician and Liocha joins an American musician for a U.S. tour. When Liocha returns, rich and successful, he fights with his old friend, leading to a sorrowful conclusion. Taxi Blues received great critical acclaim and many awards, including director Pavel Lungin winning the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 110 mins
Complete Cast:
- Petr Mamonov - Lyosha
- Vladimir Kachpur - Old Man
- Yelena Safonova - Nina-Liocha's Wife
- Sergei Gazarov - Administrator
- Dimitri Prigov - Writer Typing in the Train
- Valery Khlevinsky
- Sergei Galkin - Hippy
- Youri Yourtchenko - 1st Civil Servant
- Vladimir Sterjakov - Musician in the Taxi
- Galina Proxorova - Wife of Man on Sofa
- Vladimir Lopatine - Police Sergeant
- Iassouo Hiougadsi - Japanese Man
- Alexandre Bouianov - Passenger with Newspaper
- Viaceslav Gorbountchikov - Mechanic at the Taxi Depot
- Evgueni Gortchakov - Bald Musician in the Taxi
- Nicolai Ejevsky - Guardian
- Piotr Zaitchenko - Schlikov
- Natalia Koliakanova - Christina
- Hal Singer - Himself
- Yevgeny Gerchakov
- Igor Zolotovitsky - Petiountchik
- Yelena Stepanova - Smart Young Girl
- Constantin Asponsky - Long-Haired Mechanic
- Gercubi Vassiliskov - 2nd Civil Servant
- Yuri Sokolov - Soldier in the Tube
- Natalya Markova - Blonde Ira
- Alexandre Inchakov - Mercedes' Owner
- Pierre Rival - Malligan the Producer
- Irina Gobratova - Girl with Black Eye
- Edouard Guimpel - Man on Sofa
- Lydia Ejevskaya - "Mousy" Valia
- Director(s):
- Pavel Lungin
- Writer(s):
- Pavel Lungin
- Producer(s):
- Pierre Rival, Marin Karmitz
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 1990 - Taxi Blues - Cannes Film Festival - Best Director






