Début film evoking the unique mood of an old communal apartment block in Moscow on the eve of the new year. Happy New Year Moscow! is set entirely indoors and is reminiscent of the work of Vasili Shukshin (whose films Pechki lavochki and The Red Elder were screened two years ago in Rotterdam), with fine acting that looks as if was completely improvised.It is 30 December 1992, in an apartment a motley crew has gathered around a brother and a sister, two Muscovite Bohemians. She has come from Saint Petersburg, where she earnslots of dollars selling her paintings. Her brother also suspects prostitution: how else could anyone earn money like that? She is in love with her brother’s room-mate, but he has a sick Cuban girl in his bed. That is the start of a curious trio. The neighbours have also dropped in. The girl next-door is wearing the underwear her boyfriend has just brought back from Paris. That plus champagne and bonbons are enough to guarantee a night of naïve happiness.
