The Boy's Word: Blood on the Asphalt () is a 2023 Russian crime drama television series directed by Zhora Kryzhovnikov and written by Kryzhovnikov and Andrey Zolotarev. It is based on the novel The Word of the Boy: Criminal Tatarstan of the 1970s–2010s by Robert Garaev about the Kazan phenomenon. The series gained wide popularity in Russia and other post-Soviet countries. The series broadcast on the NTV channel from 9 November to 21 December 2023.

Kazan, during the final years of the Soviet Union as perestroika reshaped society, crime and gang violence spread through the city streets. Fourteen-year-old Andrey, a music school student, lives with his mother and younger sister but struggles with frequent harassment from local street gangs. Seeking protection, he befriends his former bully, Marat, a member of the gang Universam (lit. Supermarket). In exchange for teaching Marat English and helping him win over violinist Aigul, Andrey learns boxing and petty theft.

Andrey undergoes a brutal initiation to join Universam, becoming part of a world where loyalty to the gang takes precedence over laws and promises. Violence escalates when a fellow member, Yeralash, is killed, triggering a gang war. Marat’s older half-brother, Vova, a hardened veteran of the Afghan War, seizes control of Universam, enforcing discipline and taking revenge after Aigul is assaulted by a rival. However, Marat’s relationship with Aigul causes tension within the gang, and after she dies by suicide, he becomes increasingly disillusioned.

As militsiya crack down on gang activity, Andrey’s home life deteriorates, and Marat secretly collaborates with authorities, leading to mass arrests, including Vova’s. Attempting to flee with his nurse girlfriend, Natasha, Vova is fatally shot by police. Marat, now fully aligned with law enforcement, is left alone with Aigul’s rapist. Meanwhile, Andrey, imprisoned, plays the piano as the remaining gang members sing along, marking the end of an era.

Cast Main Ivan Yankovsky as Vova "Adidas" Suvorov (), leader of the "Universam" gang, Marat’s older brother. Ruzil Minekaev as Marat "Adidas Junior" Suvorov (), member of the "Universam" gang, Vova’s younger brother. Leon Kemstach as Andrey "Palto" Vasilyev (), new member of the "Universam" gang.

Supporting People around Suvorov brothers Elizaveta Bazykina as Natasha Rudakova (), nurse, Vova's girlfriend. Anna Peresild as Aigul Akhmerova (), school student, Marat's girlfriend. Sergey Burunov as Kirill Suvorov (), Vova and Marat's father. Svetlana Smirnova-Katsagadzhieva as Dilyara (), Marat's mother, Vova's stepmother. Ildus Abrahmanov as Renat (), Aigul's father. Ruslana Doronina as Aigul's mother.

People around Andrey Anastasiya Krasovskaya as Irina Sergeevna (), juvenile inspector, Andrey's love interest. Yuliya Aleksandrova as Svetlana Mikhailovna (), Andrey's mother. Varvara Kuprina as Yulia (), Andrey's younger sister. Grigory Dudnik as Iskander (), Andrey's former friend, a member of the "Razyezd" gang.

Others Anton Vasilyev as Ildar Yunusovich (), militsiya leading investigator. Nikita Kologrivyy as "Kashchei" (), former leader of the "Universam" gang. Lev Zulkarnaev as Vakhit "Zima" Zimaletdinov (), one of the "supers" of the "Universam" gang. Slava Kopeykin as Valera "Turbo" Turkin (), one of the "supers" of the "Universam" gang. Ivan Makarevich as "John" (), lead singer of a musical group. Alexander Samoylenko Jr. as Denis Konevich (), head of the operational Komsomol detachment of vigilantes. Nikita Manets as Kirill (), former member of the "Universam" gang. Yaroslav Mogilnikov as Misha "Yeralash" Tilkin (), member of the "Universam" gang. Albert Tavabilov as Albert "Lampa" Salikhov (), member of the "Universam" gang. Andrey Maksimov as "Zhyoltyy" (), leader of the "Dom Byta" gang. Vladimir Vinogradov as a video salon owner. Natalia Potapova as Flyura Gabdulovna (), English teacher and deputy principal of the school. Olga Lapshina as Nina, Natasha's aunt and Zhyoltyy's mother. Lydia Ilyina as Polina Filippovna (), Yeralash's grandmother.

Episodes

Production In December 2023, the scriptwriter of the series, Andrey Zolotarev, said that he had prepared stories for two new seasons of the series.

Soundtrack Performer / musicTrackAigel "Piyala"Basta "Na Zare" (Alyans cover)Viktor Tsoi, Kino "Khochu peremen" Willi Tokarev "In A Noisy Booth" Vladimir Kuzmin "Just You and Me" Yegor Letov, Grazhdanskaya Oborona "Zoo" Igor Talkov "Summer Rain" Kombinaciya "Do Not Forget" Mirage "New Hero" "Together Again" "Sunny Summer" "I Am Not Kidding" "Music Bound Us" Stas Namin, Tsvety "Heroic Strength" Yuri Shatunov, Laskovyi Mai "Pink Evening" "Gray Night" Nautilus Pompilius "I Want to Be with You" Forum "Small Island" Aleksander Serov "How to Be" Kris Kelmi "Night Rendezvous" Trio Meridian "Vocalise" Solovyova, Ziborov "Kotylu"

Accolades The series received several awards and nominations.

Award Category Nominee(s) Result Russian Guild of Film Critics Awards White Elephant for Best Series Zhora Kryzhovnikov Nika Award Special Prize of the Council of the Academy Zhora Kryzhovnikov APKIT Awards Best Director Zhora Kryzhovnikov Best Streaming Series (Over 7 Episodes) The Boy's Word: Blood on the Asphalt Best Screenplay Zhora Kryzhovnikov, Andrey Zolotarev, Robert Garaev Best Actor in a TV Movie/Series Ivan Yankovsky Best Actor in a TV Movie/Series Ruzil Minekaev Best Actor in a TV Movie/Series Leon Kemstach Best Actress in a TV Movie/Series Anna Peresild Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie/Series Nikita Kologrivyy Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie/Series Sergey Burunov Best Supporting Actress in a TV Movie/Series Yuliya Aleksandrova Best Casting Anastasiya Bagirova Best Film Editing Egor Tarasenko Best Production Designer Denis Bykov Best Costume Design Darya Fomina Best Music in a TV Movie/Series Evgeniy Ziborov National Web Industry Awards Best Streaming Series (more than 24 minutes) The Boy's Word: Blood on the Asphalt Best Director in a Streaming Series Zhora Kryzhovnikov Best Actor in a Streaming Series Ivan Yankovsky National Web Industry Awards Best Streaming Series (more than 24 minutes) The Boy's Word: Blood on the Asphalt Best Director in a Streaming Series Zhora Kryzhovnikov Best Actor in a Streaming Series Ivan Yankovsky Casting Directors' Guild of Russia Best Ensemble Cast in a SeriesAnastasiya Bagirova Best Actor Anton Vasilev Best Actor Ruzil Minekaev Breakthrough Performer of the Year Slava Kopeykin

Critical response

Domestic Film critic Vasily Stepanov praised the series and wrote: "The author's intensity and expression are captivating; everything that makes Kryzhovnikov's cinema worth loving is present: an uninhibited camera, well-conceived crowd scenes, passionate acting (the casting here is golden)". Critic Zinaida Pronchenko responded negatively to the series: "The main problem of the series is not even the dominance of props too much melted snow, peeling panel houses (inside of which one finds five-room apartments worthy of academician Keldysh), rusty zaporozhets, muskrat hats, obsessive slang, Yura Shatunovbut a complete lack of any development".

International British newspaper The Economist notes "high production values and unflinching drama" in the series. The Economist writes: "The series' grimmer episodes, full of severed ears, rape and murder, make it clear it does not glorify violence".

The show's popularity in both Russia and Ukraine, as well as criticism from the head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, were examined by Reuters Moscow bureau chief Guy Faulconbridge in an article titled "Russians go crazy for street gang TV tragedy set amid Soviet collapse". Faulconbridge wrote that "it has become the most popular series in Russia, bringing in millions of viewers to online platforms, though some officials have demanded it be banned for glorifying criminal gangs and corrupting the youth of modern Russia". Screenwriter Andrey Zolotarev commented: "For me this is a story of retribution and redemption, about how evil always returns evil – that you cannot but redeem evil".

In culture According to Alexander Nazaryan, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications called the show "hostile propaganda" while not directly mentioning it by name, and said that the show was being "widely [and] illegally" viewed across Ukraine. Alexei Uchitel said that apart from Russia, the show was also popular in Ukraine and amongst the Russian-speaking residents of Los Angeles.

References

External links

The Boy's Word: Blood on the Asphalt (site)