Tina Kandelaki

KVN is a Russian humour TV show and competition where teams compete by giving funny answers to questions and showing prepared sketches. The programme was first aired by the First Soviet Channel on November 8, 1961. Eleven years later, in 1972, when few programmes were being broadcast live, Soviet censors found the students' impromptu jokes offensive and anti-Soviet and banned KVN. The show was revived fourteen years later during the Perestroika era in 1986, with Alexander Maslyakov as its host. It is one of the longest-running TV programmes on Russian Television. It also has its own holiday on November 8, the birthday of the game, which KVN players celebrate every year since it was announced and widely celebrated for the first time in 2001.

A talk show

Four hosts discuss some current news and comment on different issues in politics and economics, similar to 7 Tage, 7 Köpfe. The show's name is a reference to the 80s TV program "Прожектор Перестройки" - a program that was discussing current events on Soviet television during the times of Perestroika - and American socialite Paris Hilton, who, according to Svetlakov, symbolizes lack of taste. Thus, the name of the show implies that this is a current events program that shouldn't be taken seriously.

The "Big Difference" is created not only for the audience, but also for those who became the hero of the parody - TV presenters and actors. A guest who comes to the studio seems to see himself through a magnifying glass, because all the details are taken into account in the parody: the character's manner of dressing, speaking, diction features, plastic, makeup, hairstyle. The uniqueness of the project is that in addition to entertainment, the program also has a developmental function. After all, our guest, who is being parodied, has a chance to look at himself from the outside, to see his shortcomings and advantages. Some people like themselves, and some don't. But the main thing is that no one remains indifferent.

The film tells a story of an agent betrayed by his partner when transporting new psychic weapon. Believed to be dead, he escapes and takes new identity so he can live in peace far away. But later he is forced to return to Moscow to confront a secret organization, led by his former partner, that attempts to use the dangerous weapon in order to take control over the country. Now he is a key figure in the battle between forces of darkness and light.

This story is about three slacker friends: Marat (a video store worker); Belyj (an unsuccessful actor); and Nick (a cowardly marshal arts practitioner). Bored with their lives and wanting to instead live in style, the boys rob the richest and most respected men in the city. However, they are in over their heads and it is too late to turn back.