The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed

A bestseller of Russian literature classics – a detective novel by the Vainer brothers about the operational staff of the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department (MUR) and their fight against criminals – does not need special introduction. This legendary book (1975) became an event in the literary life of the country, captivating millions of readers, and the television film based on it (1979) gained nationwide love from many generations of viewers. The success was ensured not only by the wonderful cast and talented direction but also by the magnificent literary foundation. A dynamic plot, a truthfully conveyed atmosphere of post-war Moscow, and colorful characters, whose lines have enriched the dictionaries of catchphrases... As Vladimir Vysotsky, who unforgettable embodied the character of Captain Zheglov on screen, said about the novel, it is not just a detective story, but true literature with its own dramaturgy: ‘There are two psychologies colliding – it's interesting, and you can't look away.’ The theme of the ethical confrontation between Zheglov and Sharapov, such dissimilar partners-rivals, remains relevant even today. And the eternal dream of humanity – the Era of Mercy, dedicated to which the novel is, still concerns readers all over the world.