n the 19th century, with the invention of the daguerreotype, it became customary to photograph the dead. Often, the dead were seated in front of the camera along with the living. Photographers had to fulfill all the wishes of customers, and sometimes very strange ones...
Russian Empire, 1919. By a twist of fate, young idealist Osip Zadunaisky meets an infamous con artist and self-proclaimed Turkish subject Ibrahim Bender. A man of pure thought and aristocratic upbringing, Osip would never have associated with a cunning and unscrupulous swindler, but Bender comes up with an offer Osip cannot refuse. A precious royal relic, a diamond-encrusted golden scepter is hidden somewhere in town; Bender needs a partner on his mission to find it, and offers Osip a share of the profit from selling the treasure. And so begins their joint venture, wrought with comical and dangerous twists and turns, where they have to outsmart and outmaneuver officers of the White Guard as well as the local mafia, who also have their eyes on the scepter. As their quest unfolds, Osip is compelled to learn Bender’s tricks of the trade: charming flattery, delicate deception, soft intimidation... as well as brute force.
The sisters inherit a house that once belonged to a silent film actress. For many years the house has been empty and is considered damned... At first, Anna does not believe in the terrible past that her relatives warn about. Suddenly strange things began to happen to her. Trying to uncover the secret, Anna finds the diary and tape that belonged to the actress. In the course of reading, she learns the life of an actress, the reasons for the tragedy... Strange things keep happening, and Anna realizes that mysterious predictions are coming true…
In the center of the plot children's writer Valentin Shubin, accustomed to live in seclusion. His books about the elephant Mishka, written in his youth, enjoyed great success both at home and abroad. A series of random events causes a new surge of interest in the personality and creativity of the writer-introvert. Adults and young readers waiting for new books, but Shubin them does not want to write.
Sophie plans to kill her husband who fell in love with Irma. Sophie envisages everything, but does not know that her plan is already known to her rival.
Dina's carefree life changes with the return of the ex-husband from the prison. She has a new family and his parish does not fit into Dina's life. The inevitability of choice. Inability to understand another...
