Blind Man's Bluff

Bala is a vibrant yet rather controversial character. His portrayal is simultaneously frightening and comical, and his behavior reflects a certain type of 90s gangster.

• Unbalanced and hot-tempered. Bala often acts on impulse, without considering the consequences.

• Low intelligence. His actions often reveal a primitive mindset; he operates on the principle of "brawn is everything."

-A reputation as a "scumbag." Outside the gang, he earned a corresponding reputation.

Bala serves as the gang's "power broker." He is often the target of ridicule from Koron and Baklazhan, highlighting the group's rigid hierarchy.

Bala is thus a grotesque, archetypal 90s gangster: physically strong but mentally limited, acting impulsively and unable to stand up to more calculating opponents.

Corona's behavior is a stark contrast between bravado and cowardice.

Koron portrays himself as an important and authoritative leader: he behaves aggressively, rudely, and harshly, constantly insulting his partner, Baklazhan. This creates a grotesque, almost comedic image that contrasts with the brutality of the criminal underworld.

However, when the situation changes abruptly, Coron reveals himself as a fearful and cowardly person.

Thus, the image of Corona is a satirical depiction of a 1990s-era gangster: his bravado and cruelty ultimately turn into farce and death.

Eggplant is a tragicomic image of a man who, being part of a cruel system, was never able to adapt to it and ultimately paid for it with his life.

• Reaction to humiliation. His comrades (Koron and Bala) constantly tease him about his skin color, calling him "Ethiopian," which irritates him greatly. Meanwhile, Baklazhan himself stubbornly insists that he is Russian.

• Lack of composure in critical moments. Unlike some of his accomplices (Korona and Bala), who initially fumble and then quickly give in, Baklazhan holds out longer, but his actions are dictated not by strategic thinking, but by impulse.

His behavior reflects the general atmosphere of despair and hopelessness that reigns within the gang. At the same time, his attempt to break free and seek revenge demonstrates that even as a minor character, he is capable of acts beyond mere cowardice.

Stepan Voronov, also known as "Legavy," is a prime example of the "werewolf in uniform," a corrupt police officer willing to commit any crime for personal gain. His actions are permeated with cynicism, unscrupulousness, and a willingness to betray.

• Willingness to play a double game. "The Cop" initially works for the crime boss Mikhalych, but simultaneously runs his own operation.

-Cruelty and lack of principles from the first minutes.

-Self-interest and greed.

• Willingness to self-expose.

"Legavoy"'s behavior is a chain of betrayals, where personal gain outweighs all moral norms. He's not just corrupt; he deliberately causes deaths, framing everyone around him.

a charismatic, yet extremely strict and cruel authority figure who readily resorts to violence while displaying ostentatious piety.

-Charisma and facade. Mikhalych knows how to make an impression: he has a friendly appearance, which helps him intimidate his subordinates.

-Toughness and intolerance of failure. He does not tolerate failure from his people (Sergey and Simon).

"He's able to keep the situation under control. Even when his men fail their missions, he doesn't lose his cool right away. He simply confiscates their drugs and temporarily suspends them. Later, when word of the robbery comes to light, Mikhalych doesn't scold the men harshly—he reprimands them for their lack of foresight, because he's already figured out where the leak originated. Then he assigns Sergei and Simon to interrogate "Legavoy."

• Ostentatious luxury and style. Mikhalych loves to flaunt his status: a crimson jacket, massive gold jewelry, a tattoo of Stalin. These aren't just clothes, but part of the image of a "new Russian"—a symbol of the era.

• A contradictory attitude toward family. On the one hand, he loves his son Vladik immensely and spoils him profusely. On the other, he drags the boy along to "showdowns" at the morgue, where he sees corpses and gets bloodied.

He displays a disdainful attitude towards others and is not willing to compromise, even when it threatens him with serious problems.

Key behavioral traits:

-refusal to cooperate. The doctor rudely rejects any generous terms. He considers himself influential and independent enough to manage without outside help.

-Calling the guards. Instead of dialogue, the Doctor calls two of his guards. This demonstrates that he perceives any opponents as a threat and is prepared to resolve matters by force.

• hot-tempered and aggressive. When the situation gets out of control, the Doctor opens fire from a pistol hidden under the table. This directly leads to his death.

• a dismissive attitude. In his dialogue, the Doctor displays a clear disdain for those around him, considering them "incomprehensible." His famous line, "So we have to reduce your population! It's a terrible place!", vividly illustrates this.

His behavior is a combination of arrogance, shortsightedness, and a penchant for violence. The Doctor underestimated his opponents, which led to a tragic end. In this context, he can be characterized as a character whose ambition and inability to communicate made him extremely vulnerable.

He acts as the "brains" of the duo with Simon, taking charge of negotiations and planning, but also displays contradictory traits.

What is striking in his actions:

• prudence in business.

-impulsiveness and bravado
Some details suggest that his bravado conceals an attempt to protect himself. Meanwhile, in other situations, he makes serious mistakes: failing to notice a pistol lying on the table nearly leads to his death.

• readiness for violence.

Overall, Sergei is internally contradictory: he is simultaneously cunning, pragmatic, and prone to reflection (especially after his injury). His behavior reflects the duality of the era and the archetype of the "new Russian"—a mixture of ostentatious "Russianness," cynicism, and fear of real danger.

The outer shell and the demeanor.
Simon is a tall, physically powerful man who consciously maintains the image of a "dumb brute." He is taciturn, aloof, and gives the impression of someone who "had his head beaten in his teens." His manner of speaking is clipped, devoid of unnecessary emotion, creating an impression of insularity.

Use of force and weapons.
Simon is a law enforcement officer. His primary weapons are pistols concealed in the sleeves of his cloak, allowing him to fire unexpectedly. He uses them without hesitation, demonstrating composure and a willingness to use violence.

Irony and ostentatious stupidity.
Despite his apparent limitations, Simon displays unexpected intelligence in critical situations, often surpassing his partner, Sergei. His "stupidity" is often a conscious mask concealing a cunning mind.

Contacts and willingness to help.
His phone book contains contacts of people he can quickly call for help. This shows that he has a certain circle of "friends" he can rely on in a dangerous situation.

Cruelty in actions.
Simon doesn't stop at murder.