The boy's word

Within the group, there was its own set of unspoken rules ("tomboy concepts"). Here is what it included:

Loyalty. It was impossible to "surrender" one's own to the militia or go over to the enemy.
Hierarchy. The younger ones ("shell", "husk") were subordinate to the older ones ("elders", "supera"), the latter were subordinate to the leader.
Behavior. There were prohibitions: for example, not to steal from grandmothers and pregnant women, not to kick, not to apologize (this was considered weakness).
Common fund. Participants had to contribute money to the general cash of the group.
Reputation. Violation of concepts (cowardice, use of forbidden things, refusal to fight for a friend, skipping training camps without a valid reason) could lead to punishment or to the fact that a person was "sewn off" - expelled from the group.
Word. The "word of the boy" was considered very important - its violation undermined trust.

The main thing about your points is that I will make a reservation right away: much is taken from the series "The Word of a Boy" and real memories of the "Kazan phenomenon" of the late 1980s.

In the world of the series and in the reality of that time, strength was measured in different ways: by numbers, control of the territory ("asphalt"), the presence of authoritative leaders ("fathers") and activists ("supers"), as well as the ability to solve problems - through strength, cunning or connections.

"Khadi Taktash". In the late 1980s, it was considered one of the most influential in Kazan. It had a clear structure: combat units, even counterintelligence, it controlled enterprises (for example, a local factory) and had serious cash turnover.
"Tyap-blooper". It became famous for its toughness even earlier: the participants organized "runs" around the city, robbed, protected points, did not hesitate to use serious weapons (up to grenades).
"House of Life". She relied on a combination of brute force and cunning, actively engaged in "protection racketeering" (for example, she took tribute from the owners of video salons).
"Universam". It is important primarily as a plot one: it is in it that the main characters of the series consist. After the return of Vova Adidas, the group began to value not prison laws, but street rules - protecting their own, doing business.
There were other notable ones: "Razezd", "Sovetskie", "Kinofilm", "Pervaki", "Boriskovo".

What could have influenced the course:

Agreement on the "instrument". At first, they could agree on what to fight: with fists or with some kind of weapon (in later periods, rebar and brass knuckles were used).
Unspoken rules. Even in a mass brawl, sometimes the norms were observed: do not hit a lying person, do not attack from behind.
The role of leaders. Sometimes the leaders tried to resolve the conflict before a mass clash or, conversely, gave the go-ahead for tough actions.
What are the rules for "insiders"?

When and where does it all happen?

The action takes place in Kazan (the capital of the Tatar ASSR) in the late 1980s. The city was divided between groups: each controlled its own district or "piece" of territory ("asphalt"). Conflicts arose over borders, resources, and attempts to expand influence.
How are battles conducted?

Often these were mass skirmishes - "wall to wall". The teams lined up and walked towards each other. But there were other formats:

One-on-one - to resolve a personal conflict.
Targeted actions - for example, a "run" through someone else's area.

What will happen to a girl who just says

hello For a girl, the logic is different, but the pressure is not weaker:

Damage to reputation with words. A couple of phrases from older boys are enough: "She says hello to everyone," and a rumor will spread in the district, which hits the status hard. In this environment, a girl's reputation is almost the main capital.
Control through the environment. The elders can forbid their boys to communicate with her and she to go to "other" yards. If she does not obey, they begin to put pressure on her publicly.
Use as a pretext for conflict. It is enough to spread a rumor that she "chats too much with strangers" for the guys from one gang to decide to "stand up" and get into a fight.
Pressure through family and school. If the elders decide that the girl is "messing up with the wrong people", they can go to the parents or the class teacher so that they "rein in". This is not always violence, but very strong social pressure.
Nuances: when "just saying hello" still rolls There

are situations when neutral communication is tolerated, but only under harsh conditions:

If a person is "one in the neighborhood". Let's say a guy lives in the area of "Universam", but at school he sits at the same desk with a boy from the "House of Life". Then at school they can greet normally, but they do not do it on the street. The border is very clear: school is one thing, the yard is another.
If there is a "roof" from authority. If the elder said: "We do not touch him", then the neutral may not be pressed. But this is a fragile defense: if the authority loses influence, the pressure will return.
If communication is as neutral and imperceptible as possible. He just nodded, walked by, didn't linger, didn't laugh, didn't discuss business. Then he may simply not be noticed.
If it is objectively useful. For example, he works in a kiosk or at the market, and everyone greets him, because he sells scarce things. Here, tolerance is based on benefit.

If a person does not get involved in gang affairs at all. He just says hello, does not participate in the training camp, does not pass on messages, does not discuss the shooters. Then he may simply not be noticed.
Important: all this is about the logic of the environment from "The Word of the Kid" and the real Kazan gangs of the 80s, and not about the norms. Even "just saying hello" in such a system is no longer neutral.

What will happen to a guy who just says hello and asks "how are you"

Even minimal communication is read as a connection:

They will start checking him. The elders from his district will say: "Why are you chatting with them? If a guy can't clearly explain who these people are and why he crosses paths with them, they won't believe him.
They can be labeled a "bridge". If the groups are on the knives, anyone who calmly walks between them automatically becomes suspicious: suddenly he passes on information. Even if he really doesn't know anything, his reputation flies down.
They will start using it. They can ask: "Tell them that we are at the point today," and then, if there is a skirmish, they will blame him: "You told them, they prepared."
Pressure to choose a side. He can be told directly: "Either you are with us, or don't hang around here." If he continues to greet strangers, this is considered disrespect for "concepts".
Small pressure. They may not beat you, but humiliate them symbolically: push them with their shoulders, tear off their hats, say something offensive in front of everyone. The goal is to show that he is "not one of them" and make him stay away.

What can be done with a "neutral"
girlFor girls, the logic is a little different, but the pressure is not weaker:

Control through reputation. If she communicates with guys from different groups, her reputation is quickly spoiled by the words: "she is with everyone", "she is not ours". This is a way to push it out of the "safe zone" of the area.
Ban on communication. The elders can directly forbid their boys to communicate with her, and she can walk around "other" yards. If she does not obey, they begin to put pressure on her publicly.
Use as a lever of pressure. It can be used to provoke a conflict: for example, to spread a rumor so that the guys from one gang "stand up" and get into a fight.
An attempt to "tie" to the district. They may try to make a girl "one of their own" through family, neighbors, school: "you are from our yard, do not go to strangers."
What happens if he/she has 1-3 friends in each gang

This is the riskiest option:

You are considered a "bridge" between gangs. And this is dangerous: if a conflict is brewing between groups, a neutral person is the first to be suspected.
They can play it off on purpose. Gangs can deliberately use such a person to arrange a provocation: ask for something, and then say that he distorted words or "leaked" plans.
The pressure increases. The more connections, the more they demand to "choose a side". If he doesn't choose, he loses trust everywhere.
Risk of becoming a scapegoat. If there is a skirmish, it is the neutral who can be blamed, even if he did not participate at all.
Nuances and exceptions

There have been situations when a neutral person was tolerated, but only under harsh conditions:

If he is useful to everyone. For example, he knows how to negotiate, knows the city, can get a scarce thing. Then he is tolerated as a "useful intermediary", but his status is still low.
If the authority stood up for him. If one of the elders said: "We do not touch him", then the neutral could not be pressed. But this is a fragile defense: if the authority loses influence, the pressure will return.

if two leaders or "supers" fall in love with the same girl

This is no longer a domestic quarrel, but a conflict of statuses, which is dangerous for the entire group:

Risk of splitting. If two authorities pull in different directions, the gang can split into factions, and this greatly weakens it in front of other districts.
An attempt to solve "according to concepts". Most often, the elders or the "council" of authorities interfered: they either agreed on rules (for example, "no one touches until she chooses herself"), or artificially divorced the parties (one was sent to "business" in another district).
Public demonstration of force. Sometimes such conflicts resulted in a demonstrative skirmish in order to "let off steam" and restore the hierarchy: whoever is stronger gets an advantage (not necessarily the girl herself, but the right to dictate terms).
Sacrifice for the sake of authority. In tough gangs, the leader could demonstratively "refuse" the girl to show that the authority and unity of the gang was more important to him: this strengthened his status.
Important: everything below is about the logic of the world of the series and the real Kazan gangs of the 80s, and not about the norms of behavior.

If a guy or a girl is not in a group, but is friends with guys from different gangs

In such a system, "friendship with everyone" almost automatically becomes a problem, because the system itself is built on a clear division of "friend and foe".

What can be done with a "neutral" guySuspected
of leaking information. If he goes to the "Universam", and to the "House of Life", and to the "Razezd", he is immediately considered a potential snitch. Even if he does not say anything, the very fact of communicating with different gangs is a reason for distrust.
Try to "sew" to your gang. The elders can deliberately draw him in: "You are with us, you know our boys." For them, a neutral friend of strangers is a resource that is better to take for themselves.
Use him as a messenger. He may be tasked with passing messages between gangs, because "neutral" is less likely to provoke conflict on the street. But if something goes wrong, he will be the one to blame.

For

any gang, the world is divided into "us" (gang members and those close to them) and "them" (all others, especially other groups). Hence the cult of force, and distrust of external structures (police, school, adults), and readiness to escalate the conflict for the sake of preserving reputation.

Connection with "adult" crime and prison culture

Even teenage gangs are guided by "concepts" that are largely borrowed from the prison subculture: respect for authority, the importance of words and status, and public punishment for "betrayal." At the same time, in the series it is clear that in some gangs this is more pronounced (for example, in Kashchei in "Universam"), in others there is more street pragmatism, but the very reliance on "concepts" remains common.

Rigid hierarchy

All gangs have a clear ladder of statuses: from the "shell" (the youngest, newcomers) through the "supers" and "seniors" to the leader ("bate"). The transition through the ranks is not by age, but through trials - most often through participation in fights and a willingness to take risks. This can be seen in Universam, Dom Byta, and the larger Khadi Taktash.

"Concepts" as an internal law

Instead of official rules, there is an unwritten code:

loyalty and silence about the police - assistance to the investigation or denunciation are considered the most serious offense;
protection of "friends" – the group is obliged to respond if one of its own has been offended;
mandatory training and attendance - skipping the "point" without a valid reason - almost a betrayal;
The tests for joining and expelling – "sewing" and "sewing" – are always public and demonstrative.
Control of the territory and collection of money

Any group first of all "holds the district": it controls courtyards, markets, entrances, collection points. Money is collected in different ways: from the younger ones ("shells"), from "chushpans" (those who are not in the gang), through the protection of small points (like a video salon). Even if the style of earning is different (someone has more fights, someone has protection racket), the very logic of "district = income" is common.

Group identity and style

Although the details differ, gangs emphasize belonging:

common gathering places (boxes, courtyards, cafes) are "their" points where strangers do not go;
recognizable elements of appearance - jeans, "varenki", jackets, sometimes patches or inscriptions;
their own slang and rituals - from the names of statuses ("supera", "starshak") to the rules of conduct on the "arrows".
One

of the main unifying features is that conflicts between districts are resolved not individually, but collectively: dozens of guys gather and go to the "arrow" in the industrial zone or to the wasteland. This is both a way to assert authority and a test of strength for the younger ones. Everyone has this format of clashes: from a small gang like Universam to large groups like Khadi Taktash.

Supermarket". The central grouping of the series. Who is in it: Vova "Adidas", Marat "Adidas Jr.", Andrey "Coat", Valera "Turbo", Zima, Albert "Lamp", Misha "Yeralash". Number: small - according to the plot, this is a local gang of the district, and not a large-scale organized criminal group.
"House of Life". He is the antagonist of Universam. Who is in it: Vadim "Yellow" (leader), Gypsy, Roman "Kolik" (sewn for breaking the rules). Number: about 30-35 people.
"Khadi Taktash". Universam has a serious conflict with this group (including because of the murder of Yeralash). In the series, the specific names of the members are not as accentuated as in the first two, but she plays an important role in the plot. Number: the series does not go into detail, but by analogy with real prototypes - several dozen people.
"Departure". Another street gang. An interesting point: after the defeat of the "House of Life", many of its participants moved here. Specific names in the series are not singled out separately - the grouping is rather background to the general context of the street confrontation.
"Tyap-blooper". In the series itself, this gang does not act directly, but it is often mentioned and parallels are drawn: "Universam" is largely inspired by it. In reality, Tyap-Lyap was one of the first large teenage groups in Kazan (Teplokontrol district), and the authors of the series took the types of leaders from there.
A few details about the structure

Within each group there was a clear hierarchy:

"Shells" are the youngest members.
"Supers" are the most authoritative, the "right hand" of the leader.
"Elders" are teenagers from high school.
Above were the "young", "middle", "old people", and at the head was the "father" (leader).

Specific locations:

Andrey's House "Coat". Filming took place in the courtyard on Rosa Luxemburg Street, 14/30 (Pyaterka district). This is where the series begins: the guys pull themselves up on the horizontal bars, the hero runs to the bus.

Yeralash's house. Gray panel building in Murmansky Proyezd, 5 (Bragino district). According to the plot, the boy lived here with his grandmother. By the way, the scene of his funeral was filmed in the same place.
The hockey rink of the "supermarket". The field between Pionerskaya Street, 23 and Dzerzhinsky Avenue, 25 (Bragino). Important: there was no real box there - it was specially built for filming. Also, a brick building with the inscription "Glory to the CPSU" was erected for the frame.
Video salon. The porch of the building on Kolyshkina Street, 62. Here, after the robberies, the "supermarketers" opened an underground video salon: they played cartoons, foreign action movies and other recordings.
Aigul House. Alexander Nevsky Street, 5, building 3. In this building, the heroine is talking to Maratik, he is waiting for her at the disco. Later, a difficult scene takes place in the same house.
Gamma Palace of Culture. It is located in the village of Rezinotekhnika. At this building with snow-white columns (it was built in 1953 for the workers of the Yaroslavrezinotechnika plant), Aigul was waiting for Marat.
Cafe "Snowflake". It is located in the courtyard of the sports school No 9 on Pionerskaya Street, 19a. The "House of Life" group led by Yellow met here, and it was here that Adidas killed Yellow after the incident with Aigul.
Other notable places:

Sovetskaya Square - here a group of heroes decides to go to Moscow, and one of the first fights of the Coat also takes place.
Volzhskaya Embankment - here they filmed the police chasing the heroes who stole an ambulance.
Uglich market - here street breeders played thimbles, and Coat's mother lost her hat.
The Music College named after L. V. Sobinov - one of its halls was turned into a cinema hall for the second series.

What were the boys

like It is more interesting here: in street companies, the style was often dictated by the groups themselves and local authorities. In addition to jeans and "varenki", guys could wear the same quilted jackets (as a marker of belonging to a certain party), complementing the image with badges, patches or even etching the inscriptions on the back with bleach. Accessories were also an important part of the image: bandanas, caps, sometimes platform shoes. In general, in the men's fashion of that time, the spirit of experimentation and the desire to stand out was felt.

Important clarification

All this is the general background of the era. In the series "The Word of a Kid" these details are shown very accurately: music, clothes, slang really reflect the end of the 80s.
Domestic stage

Zhenya Belousov. In 1989, it was one of the main hits: "My Blue-Eyed Girl", "Such a Short Summer" sounded literally from everywhere.
"Mirage". Andrey Lityagin's project continued to gather an audience. In addition to the tracks that had already become classics, new tape albums were released in 1989. By the way, at that time, other projects branched off from "Mirage" - for example, "The Fairy" (Svetlana Razina) or "The Little Prince" (Alexander Khlopkov).
"Electroclub". Under the artistic direction of David Tukhmanov, the group was also at the top. One of the soloists is Irina Allegrova.
"Aria". In the late 80s, the group was actively developing: albums with hits like "Street of Roses", "Rock This World" were released.
"Black coffee". Another notable rock project of that time.
"Gaza Strip". In 1989, the album "Kolkhoz Punk" was released - for some young people, this group became a discovery.
"Na-na". Bari Alibasov's project was only gaining momentum: already in 1989, "Eskimo and Papuan", "Nightingale the Robber" were in rotation.
Igor Kornelyuk. His songs ("You never know", "Come back") also sounded very often.
Valery Leontiev. He continued to gather an audience - for example, the hit "Margarita" was among the leaders.

Music

In 1989, teenagers' tastes were variegated. Someone was a fan of pop groups — for example, there was a crazy hysteria on "Tender May" (the hit "White Roses" was just released that year, and there was also a very popular song among men was the song [gray night]). Others listened to Western electronics and disco: Modern Talking, C.C. Ketch, Bad Boys Blue. Sergei Minaev then actively made Russian rehashes of Western hits - this was also in use. And Russian rock was also gaining momentum: "Kino", "DDT", "Aria". At the same time, hip-hop culture was emerging: the first Soviet rap groups appeared ("Black and White", D.M.J.), and along with rap, break dance entered the life of teenagers. Often music was played from tape cassettes - the exchange of recordings was the main way to learn new things.

Fashion

There is also a mixture here: something that we managed to get, and local street trends.

Jeans were a must-have. "Bananas" and "varenki" were especially valued (they were often made themselves - boiled in the bathroom to get a unique effect).
In men's fashion at the end of 1989, quilted jackets in combination with kirzach shot for a short time - this became a noticeable street trend that quickly passed.
Among outerwear, the dream of many was the futuristic parka N-3B (often mistakenly called "Alaska").
In hairstyles, there were combs, the emphasis was on the bangs (it was supposed to "stand"), sometimes they dyed their hair in bright colors.
What were the girls

like In ordinary life (not in street companies), many girls wore school uniforms - for that time it was the norm. In an informal environment or at parties, they could dress a little looser: T-shirt dresses with prints (for example, with Mickey Mouse), brighter or unusual combinations for that time. But in general, the culture of self-expression through clothes among schoolgirls was more restrained than that of guys in street gangs.

Currency and prices (in the context of 1989 and the street)

In the series and in the real street economy of that time, the main currency was Soviet rubles, but the value of things and money was very different from the usual one due to shortages and the "shadow" economy.

What was collected and how it was calculated:

Change from the younger ones. The boys collected 20-50 kopecks from the "chushpans" and schoolchildren, sometimes a ruble - for them it was a way to show power, and for the gang it added up to a "common fund".
The "common fund" of the group. The money was used for general needs: assistance to those who ended up in the police, small bribes, the purchase of scarce things, sometimes for "gifts" to the elders.
Barter and shortages. Scarce goods were often more important than money: jeans, sneakers, cassettes, chewing gum, cigarettes. They were exchanged, given as a sign of respect, used as a reward.
Things as a currency of status. Adidas sneakers (or "adidas-like"), branded jackets, Levi's or Montana jeans are not just clothes, but a status marker. Sometimes a favor or loyalty could be "asked" for a thing.
Video salons and cassettes. A visit to a video salon cost a few rubles, and a cassette with a popular film could cost 15-25 rubles - a lot of money for a teenager.
Approximate prices and benchmarks of the era (1980s - early 1990s):

a loaf of bread - 20-24 kopecks;
milk - 30-36 kopecks per bottle;
travel in transport - 5 kopecks;
jeans (deficit) - from 80 to 150 rubles and above;
sneakers (branded) - 100-120 rubles;
cinema ticket - 20-40 kopecks;
A visit to the video salon costs 2-5 rubles.
For the boys from the district, these amounts were almost unattainable, so they collected change, and the main "capital" was scarce things and connections.

"Shell" / "husk" (beginners) – the youngest (often 13-15 years old). Their tasks: to stand "on the shelf", to transmit messages, to collect change, to pass tests.
"Supera" (average) are proven guys who already participate in skirmishes and monitor discipline. This is the gang's "workforce."
"Seniors" are authoritative participants who make decisions, negotiate with other districts, control money and compliance with "concepts".
"Leader" / "authority" is the main one in the group. His word is the law: he decides whether to go to the "arrow", who to hire or kick out, how to divide the money.

Gypsy (an ordinary fighter of one of the street groups)

Appearance: dark, thin, but wiry; Black hair, short haircut. The clothes are worn, but strong: a jacket, pants, boots - everything for fights and running. In the frame, there is always where the skirmish begins.
Character: not a leader or a strategist, he is a "combat unit". He acts on command, does not ask unnecessary questions, but is the first to go into a fight. There is no particular cruelty in him - he is just used to the fact that force decides everything.
Lapot (a street kid, stays closer to the gang's "siloviki")

Appearance: short, dense, with a round face and a heavy look. He wears something simple and rough, as if specially "not for beauty": old jeans, a sweater, a jacket. They look like he's always ready for a fight or hard work.
Character: straightforward, laconic, does what they say. He does not strive for leadership, but he is reliable in skirmishes and has a good sense of when it is time to strike and when to retreat.
Fat (a guy on the hook, tries to prove that he is "his own")

Appearance: large, massive, but not athletic - rather dense. The face is open, but the street rigidity already appears in it. He dresses like everyone else, but things fit a little worse - as if he has not yet learned to look "right".
Character: wants to be accepted, so he tries to please his elders, grabs any assignments. He has a lot of desire to "be cool", but little experience - because of this, he sometimes does stupid things, and then gets angry with himself.
Khadishevsky kid (nameless private from "Khadi Taktash", for crowd fight scenes)

Appearance: a typical kid from the outskirts: short haircut, simple clothes, a wary look. He does not stand out in the frame, but always in the thick of the crowd - one of those who make the clash massive.
Personality: nameless, "expendable" character: acts as part of a group, does not think about himself, only about the gang winning.
Punk (nickname; not in a group, but from the street environment)

Appearance: hair a little longer than the rest, sloppy styling, maybe a mohawk or just tousled strands. Leather jacket or denim jacket with patches, ripped jeans

About prostitution

In the series itself, the topic of prostitution is not revealed as a separate line. The street system is built on the control of territory and money, but not on the organization of sex services. In the context of the era and the region, sex and relationships are more likely to become part of power games and reputational conflicts, rather than the economic segment of the gang.

What are the groups and what do they do

"Universam" is one of the central groups of the series. He controls his district, collects money, participates in skirmishes, follows the "concepts". Leaders change (first Kashchey, then Vova Adidas).
"House of Life" is a group led by Zhelty. It operates in its district, competes with "Universam" for territory and authority.
"Razezd" is another district gang; Andrei's friend, Iskander, goes there.
"Khadi Taktash" is a large and tough group, which in the series is shown as an external threat: its fighters participate in mass skirmishes "district to district".
What the groups do:

control the territory and "their" yards;
they collect money from the younger ones and from those who are not in the gang ("from the chushpans");
arrange "shootouts" (showdowns) with other gangs;
monitor the observance of "concepts" within their group;
teenagers are used for small errands and as "extras" in fights.
The ranks (hierarchy) in the

"Shell" / "husk" group (newcomers) are the youngest (often 13-15 years old). Their tasks: to stand "on the shelf", to transmit messages, to collect change, to pass tests.
"Supera" (average) are proven guys who already participate in skirmishes and monitor discipline. This is the gang's "workforce."
"Seniors" are authoritative participants who make decisions, negotiate with other districts, control money and compliance with "concepts".
"Leader" / "authority" is the main one in the group. His word is the law: he decides whether to go to the "arrow", who to hire or kick out, how to divide the money.

Other groups: appearance and character (briefly)

Kashchey (former leader of "Universam", holds on to the old "prison" concepts)

Appearance: thin, wiry, looks older than his years; short haircut, a face with sharp features, as if "chiseled". He wears simple but solid clothes - no pretentiousness, but everything practical. His gaze is heavy, as if he is constantly assessing where the weakness is.
Character: tough, uncompromising, used to keep the district "in his fist". For him, the concepts are not about justice, but about power and control.
Vadim Zheltukhin ("Yellow", leader of the "House of Life")

Appearance: stately, neat, "fit" appearance; Blond hair, open face, but eyes attentive, tenacious. Often in a neat jacket, not in a tracksuit, like most boys, as if he specifically emphasizes that he is "different".
Character: among street authorities, he is known as "honest" - he does not meddle in other people's territory for no reason, keeps his word, but does not forgive offenses either. He has a kind of cold principle: he is not evil, but if you cross the line, there will be no mercy.
Roma Kolik (member of the "House of Life")

Appearance: strong, stocky, short-haired; The face is rough, with a slight impudent grin. He dresses "according to the neighborhood": a jacket, jeans, sneakers - nothing superfluous, but it is convenient to fight.
Character: impudent, assertive, likes to show strength. He acts at the behest of his elders, but on occasion he climbs forward himself - it is important for him to be feared and respected.
Iskander (Andrey's friend, went to "Razezd")

Appearance: a teenager, a little larger than Andrey; Dark hair, simple haircut, no style. He looks like an ordinary boy from the neighborhood: a sweater, a jacket, a scarf. In the crowd, he almost does not stand out - and this is his trick: he does not want to be noticed, but he is already trying to behave "like one of his own".
Personality: At first, he was an ordinary school friend, but quickly gets involved in the street system. He wants to be stronger and cooler, so he reaches out to those who give a sense of support. There is a lot of insecurity in him, which he hides behind rudeness.

Group "Universam"

Vladimir Suvorov - nickname Vova Adidas. The leader of the group, who returned from Afghanistan, is trying to establish his own order in the gang.
Marat Suvorov - often appears in the series as Marat, brother of Vova Adidas; gets involved in street life and introduces Andrei to it.
Andrey Vasiliev - nickname Coat. A schoolboy gets into a group and goes through all the stages of being drawn into the "street".
Valera Turkin - nickname Turbo. One of the elders in the gang, strictly monitors the observance of the "concepts".
Winter is a nickname, the real name is not particularly emphasized in the plot. One of the "supers", close to the leader, maintains discipline.
Misha Tilkin is nicknamed Yeralash. A young member of the group, his fate becomes one of the painful plot twists.
Kirill is a former member of the group, expelled for cowardice/breaking the rules.
Other Kashchey groups

are the former leader of Universam, who adheres to the old "prison" rules; The conflict with him is one of the lines of change of power in the gang.
Vadim Zheltukhin - nickname Yellow. The leader of the Dom Byta group is considered relatively "honest" by street standards.
Roma Kolik is a member of the Dom Byta group.
Iskander is a former friend of Andrei, joined the Razezd group.
Family, school, police, others

Svetlana Mikhailovna is Andrei's mother.
Yulia Vasilyeva is Andrey's younger sister.
Ildar Yunusovich - police officer, senior detective; tries to influence Andrei and solve gang cases.
Irina Sergeevna is an inspector for juvenile affairs, trying to get teenagers out of crime.
John is a musician, a friend of Irina's, connected with the cultural side of the city's life.
Denis Konevich is the head of the OKOD (operational Komsomol detachment of vigilantes), trying to work with young people through the Komsomol.
Flyura Gabdulovna is the head teacher of the school, an English teacher.
Natasha Rudakova is a girl associated with the encirclement of groups.
Nina Zheltukhina is a relative of Zheltoy.
Kirill Suvorov is the father of Vova and Marat.

Dilyara (mother of Marat and Vova) - well-groomed, but without luxury; dark hair of medium length, soft facial features; wears calm, "homely" things - sweaters, skirts, sometimes a light scarf; In her image, you can read anxiety and an attempt to maintain comfort in a difficult environment.
Kirill Suvorov (Vova and Marat's father) is a man of mature age, handsome, holding himself straight; short haircut, gray hair on the temples; dresses solidly, but not flashily - classic trousers, shirts, jacket; in his gaze there is confusion and heaviness from the fact that he cannot hold his sons.
Polina Filippovna (Misha-Yeralash's grandmother) is an elderly woman, fragile, a little hunched over; gray hair gathered in a tight bun; wears simple dresses, a warm scarf, an apron; In her appearance, there is quiet care and fatigue from life.
Nina (Yellow's mother) is a woman with a collected, strict look; hair pulled back, a minimum of makeup; practical clothes, "without superfluous": a skirt with a sweater or a suit; She feels inner strength and anxiety for her son.
Tatyana (a neighbor of the Vasiliev family) is an ordinary neighbor "from the entrance": a simple haircut, a coat or jacket for the weather, a string bag or a shopping bag; There's nothing special about her appearance, which is why she notices everything around her.
Marat's grandmother (Tatyana Korneta) is elderly, with a soft but firm posture; gray hair, a scarf or a warm kerchief; wears simple, solid clothes, often knitted things; In her gaze there is concern and readiness to protect her grandson.

Yulia Vasilyeva (Andrei's younger sister) is a little girl of about five years old, blond hair, often in simple pigtails or ponytails; children's clothes, comfortable - dresses, jackets, tights; She looks lively and curious, but in the frame she often seems to be trying to be "quiet".

Vova Adidas (Vladimir Suvorov)

Role: leader of the group. He returned from Afghanistan, and this experience greatly influences his views: he tries to combine street harshness with some of his own concepts of justice. At some point, he even leaves the gang, but later returns. Character: charismatic, confident, but there is vulnerability under the hard shell. He knows how to command respect, while not without doubts. Appearance: height 178 cm, brown-haired, brown eyes. He grew a mustache during his service. He often wears a striped vest (it peeks out from under the sweater) - this is his recognizable detail. He also has a tattoo "DRA" (Democratic Republic of Afghanistan)
Marat Suvorov

Role: Vova's half-brother. It is he who introduces Andrei to street life and becomes a guide to the world of the gang. Character: active, impulsive, charismatic. He is prone to risk, can be provocative and daring, while being capable of strong feelings (for example, when a tragedy happens to his girlfriend Aigul, he does not leave her). He combines cruelty and kindness. Appearance: height 170 cm, brown hair, brown eyes. He wears sportswear typical of that time. He stands out with a mohair red and black scarf (which, by the way, is prickly - this even becomes a small detail in the plot).
Andrey Vasiliev (Coat)

Role: a schoolboy who is drawn into a group. Initially, he is a "chushpan" (not from the gang), but he is looking for protection and tries to assert himself. Through his story, the transformation is shown: from a shy, empathic boy to a man who accepts the cruel rules of the street. Character: at the beginning - correct, passive, scrupulous in matters of morality. Later, "hypercompensation" is turned on: he begins to fight, defend his opinion. Appearance: tall, thin, brown hair, blue eyes. He looks like an ordinary, ordinary teenager, which helps him first merge with the environment. The nickname "Coat" is due to the fact that he often wore outerwear, which made him stand out on the street.

Valera Turkin (Turbo)

Role: one of the seniors in the group, strictly monitors discipline and compliance with the "tomboy" rules. Character: straightforward, principled, sometimes aggressive. It does not tolerate violations. At the same time, he is loyal to the group. There is a nuance: he has unpredictable aggression, because of which Vova Adidas is sometimes afraid of him. After Vova's departure, Turbo expected to become the second person in the gang, but this place was Zima. Appearance: height 183 cm, athletic build. Blond, with curly hair, gray-green eyes. The style is street, careless, with fashionable details for that time: dark sweaters and sweatshirts, a jacket with a maple leaf, a fernandelka hat.

Winter (Vakhit Zimaletdinov)

Role: another of the "supers" of the group. Restrained, silent, but at the same time always in the center of events and supports Vova. When Vova leaves, it is Winter who becomes the main one in Universam. Character: embodies a rigid hierarchy and adherence to boyish principles. There is tragedy in it: behind the external severity hides a person who has faced difficult life circumstances. Appearance: height 178 cm, brown-haired, brown eyes. Tall, thin, with big eyes. His appearance is perceived by many as the embodiment of deprivation and poverty.
The rest of the mentioned characters Kirill is a former member of the

group. He was expelled for violating unspoken "concepts". This shows how strictly discipline is observed in the gang.
Gray plays the role of a messenger: it transmits messages, connects different participants.
Pasha is a petty performer. His tasks are to run errands, to stand "on the shenanigan" (to make sure that the police or enemies do not arrive in time).
Maloy is an example of how the youngest are drawn into the group. He is a beginner who is just being tested.

Clothing

The wardrobe was practical and largely dictated by street "concepts": clothes had to be neat, comfortable, but at the same time carry markers of belonging. I would highlight a few characteristic things:

Tracksuits. A very common option for everyday wear and preparations.
Quilted jackets. They were often worn, including for fights - practical and not sorry. Because of this, members of Kazan groups were sometimes jokingly called "telogreechniki".

The official currency, of course, remained the Soviet rubles. But in the group environment, money often worked differently. The main "currency" within the system was the common fund - a common cash register, where participants deposited money (collected from the "chushpans", received from small exactions or protection of shadow business). These funds were used for general needs: support for comrades who were imprisoned, the purchase of things for collections, and the resolution of conflicts. That is, formally they paid in rubles, but the meaning and value of money within this subculture were different – it became an instrument of power and control, and not just a means of exchange.

What are the rules for "insiders"?

Within the group, there was its own set of unspoken rules ("tomboy concepts"). Here is what it included:

Loyalty. It was impossible to "surrender" one's own to the militia or go over to the enemy.
Hierarchy. The younger ones ("shell", "husk") were subordinate to the older ones ("elders", "supera"), the latter were subordinate to the leader.
Behavior. There were prohibitions: for example, not to steal from grandmothers and pregnant women, not to kick, not to apologize (this was considered weakness).
Common fund. Participants had to contribute money to the general cash of the group.
Reputation. Violation of concepts (cowardice, use of forbidden things, refusal to fight for a friend, skipping training camps without a valid reason) could lead to punishment or to the fact that a person was "sewn off" - expelled from the group.
Word. The "word of the boy" was considered very important - its violation undermined trust

Andrey Vasiliev (Coat) – 16 years old.
Marat Suvorov is 16 years old.
Vova Suvorov (Adidas) - 21 years old.
Aigul Akhmerova is 14 years old.
"Turbo" (Valera Turkin) - about 18 years old.
"Winter" - about 18-19 years.
Kashchey is about 23-25 years old.
Vadim Zheltukhin ("Yellow") is about 19-21 years old.
Iskander is about 15-16 years old.
Misha Tilkin ("Yeralash") is about 14-15 years old, there are 13 years old in the group, but usually from 14 a
worn-out girl is considered dirty, they do not communicate and sometimes feel disgusted, even the family sometimes turns away and it is a shame to write a statement, as well as a conversation about menstruation is taboo, only with friends, it is often hidden from guys, there was also a shortage of feminine hygiene items, chocolate, chewing gum, some things like jeans, books, medicines and food...

Other hats. There were also "cockerels" (flat ski caps) and fur ushankas (often rabbit).
Scarves. Mohair scarves were also in use.
Shoes and small things. Sneakers were often worn (including Soviet analogues of Adidas with white stripes). Sometimes logos were applied to shoes or other things through a stencil.
Was there something "sovok different"?
In the 1980s, there was still a shortage in the USSR, and this directly affected fashion and everyday life.
Jeans really were an iconic thing. They were very much appreciated: original Western brands (Levi's, Wrangler, Lee, Montana) were difficult to get, so both Indian analogues (Milton's) and Soviet ones (Tver, Mustang, Vereya) were in use. At the same time, Soviet jeans often faded and quickly lost their appearance, and craftsmen put fake labels of Western brands on them. Among the styles, "bananas" and "varenki" stood out.
Wide pants were also found - in that street environment, a certain freedom of movement was valued.
At the same time, many things were not so much a fashion trend as a response to practical problems: warm, durable, not sorry to lose or spoil in a fight.