The Altiist Danilov

Vladimir Danilov, a demon under contract, works as an altiist in the Bolshoi Theatre. He enjoys his earthly life: music, hanging out with friends, and the hustle and bustle of Moscow. He even met the girl of his dreams –... laboratory assistant Natasha. But one circumstance troubles him – a demonic court has appointed him a time "Ch." In the tormented anticipation of his fate, Danilov is forced to watch over his lycée mate Karmadon, who has turned into a huge blue bull, run errands for his ex-wife Claudia, and see himself transforming more and more into a human… "The Altiist Danilov" opens the cycle of "Ostankino Stories" by Vladimir Orlov (1936 – 2014) and is one of the brightest examples of Soviet magical realism. Behind the subtle satire lies eternal questions of Russian literature about the fate of the creator, the struggle between good and evil, and the search for the true "self" in this complicated world.