Vladimir Kott

Dmitriy is a popular actor, a star of action films. The public loves him for his image of a macho with an impenetrable face. One day, Dmitriy receives an offer from a stern but very rich businessman from Siberia, Sergey, to star in a crime drama about the 90s in the lead role of a cold-blooded killer. Sergey offers Dmitriy's agent a fee 10 times higher than usual. They agree. During the filming, Dmitriy is accidentally wounded by a shot. After a simple operation, he is ready to return to the frame, but faces an unexpected side effect: now he constantly smiles, and any emotions are expressed with laughter. Dmitriy has no chance to stop filming and "upset" Sergey, who clearly knows firsthand what he is making a movie about.

Director Mitya escapes from the set of the next television series. In this he is helped by the ghost of Marcello Mastroianni. The decision to escape launches a chain of events with the participation of Mitya's family and friends, which can only be unraveled by the answer to the question of what kind of director he wants to be: great, talented, or just normal.

In present day Moscow three childhood friends in their forties - former school band players - live their everyday lives of a police officer, a taxi driver and a surgeon. They have lost track of each other. Three stories of betrayal, love and ageing are told in parallel. In fact, unknown to our heroes, their paths cross and their lives become connected. But they are not aware of it even when they reunite for a breaking performance at their graduation anniversary.

The action takes place in Victorian England in the last quarter of the 19th century. 27-year-old amateur detective Sherlock Holmes becomes a bystander to a crime along with Dr. John Watson, a military doctor who has just returned from the war in Afghanistan. During the investigation, Watson, not yet having an apartment in London, settles with Holmes in Mrs. Hudson's «half board», and then takes part in the affairs of his new friend. Watson gives Holmes boxing lessons. Watson himself is an experienced boxer, able to deal with several opponents with his bare hands. In addition, he is an excellent marksman. Considering Holmes a genius, the doctor decides to tell the whole world about his talent and the mysteries he revealed in his stories, where he often embellishes the events («the true story» of which the series presents). Watson is taught to embellish events by the editor-in-chief of the «Morning Chronicle».