A Fairy Tale for the Old 2022

Drama

Fantasy

Crime

Mystery

Budget

$1.4M

Runtime

78 mins

Language

Russian

Directed by

Yuriy Kovalyov

Made by

FT Production

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A Fairy Tale for the Old Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for A Fairy Tale for the Old (2022). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Three years after the stash-keeper Evgeniy Tkachuk vanished with gang money, rumors spread that he’s alive and has been spotted in three distant cities: Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Rostov. The crime boss Batya dispatches his three “sons”—Senior, Middle, and Roman Mikhailov—to track him down and uncover the truth, no matter what it takes. In Novosibirsk, Senior earns a wary ally in a local Aleksey Inglevich, a dwarf with a sharp talent for locating people. Their pursuit threads through shuttered, snow-dusted streets, empty warehouses, and frozen wastelands, until they stumble into a party of revelers wearing elaborate costumes, hinting that nothing in this case will be straightforward.

In Saint Petersburg, Junior reconnects with an old acquaintance, only to find that the companions meant to help him are really after this friend. They chase a lead that points toward Mulya, and a guide ferries Junior by elevator to a place that feels almost otherworldly, where the rules of reality seem loose and sense is elusive.

Meanwhile, in Rostov, Middle is duped and left stranded in the forest. While seeking help, he comes across a procession of men transporting a coffin that contains a man who looks exactly like Mulya. They arrive at a wake hosted by Yakov the Stableman, who likewise bears a striking resemblance. Middle’s instinct tells him this must be Mulya, but the locals insist otherwise, deepening the mystery rather than solving it.

The following day, Middle and what is described as Yakov/Muliya set off to bring him to Batya, but their route is halted by a sudden, colorfully costumed procession. Desperate for answers, Middle slips into a nearby house through a heavy metal door and finds a quiet kitchen where Mulya, Batya, Senior, and Junior sit together, chatting as if winter were simply ending and spring were merely days away. They sip tea and reflect on the changing season, weaving an eerie calm over the chaos that preceded it. When Middle, overwhelmed by the absurdity and the surreal comfort around him, voices his confusion, Senior tells him to just accept what is happening and wish everyone a peaceful spring. The moment dissolves into shared laughter, and the film seals the journey with a sense of dreamlike closure.

A Fairy Tale for the Old Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of A Fairy Tale for the Old (2022) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Bar scene sets the mystery

In a dim bar, Junior tells a bizarre, contradictory story to a friend, setting a tone of intrigue and unease. The tale hints at a vanished crime figure and a wider conspiracy, leaving the listener both skeptical and curious. This opening framing primes the audience for the hunt to come.

opening scene bar

Disappearance and sightings spark rumors

Three years after Muliya vanished with the gang money, rumors spread that he might be alive. Sightings surface in Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Rostov, fueling a city-wide sense of mystery. The whispers prompt Batya to take action.

three years after disappearance Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov

Batya dispatches his three sons

Criminal boss Batya flags the three 'sons' (Senior, Middle, and Junior) to investigate the sightings. Each son will pursue a different city, treating the case as a test of loyalty and nerve. The assignment marks the formal start of their separate journeys.

after rumors Batya's HQ

Senior heads to Novosibirsk

In Novosibirsk, Senior enlists help from a local dwarf skilled at finding people. The two set off through abandoned buildings and snowy wastelands in a calculated search. The pursuit hints at a larger, surreal game beyond a simple missing-person case.

during investigation in Novosibirsk Novosibirsk

A procession of revelers blocks the trail

Senior follows the clues through bleak landscapes until he encounters a group of celebrants in costumes. The disturbing spectacle blends crime with carnival and tests his resolve. The scene underscores the odd, dreamlike atmosphere of the pursuit.

during investigation in Novosibirsk Novosibirsk outskirts

Junior in Saint Petersburg uncovers a dangerous lead

Junior reconnects with an old acquaintance in Saint Petersburg, only to realize the supposed allies intend to harm this friend. The investigation reveals a built-in trap as they scramble for safety. A lead on Muliya emerges, and a guide escorts Junior by elevator to a mysterious location.

during investigation in Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg

Middle is betrayed in Rostov

In Rostov, Middle is tricked and left stranded in the woods, cut off from the others. His isolation intensifies the sense that nothing is what it seems. The search takes a grim turn as he stumbles toward a startling discovery.

early Rostov investigation Rostov

A coffin lookalike surfaces at a wake

Middle witnesses men transporting a coffin bearing a man who looks exactly like Muliya, and they arrive at a wake hosted by Yakov the Stableman, who also resembles Muliya. The coincidence deepens the strangeness and blurs identity. The scene plants the seed for a possible reunion, or a deception, in Rostov.

the wake in Rostov Rostov at a wake

The reluctant journey resumes amid a costumed procession

The next day, Middle and Yakov/Muliya begin a journey to bring him to Batya, but they are interrupted by a passing costumed procession. The spectacle disrupts the plan and emphasizes the film’s ritual, almost ceremonial pace. The moment widens the gap between belief and absurd reality.

next day Rostov

A kitchen encounter reveals the truth of the gathering

Middle tracks Yakov/Muliya to a nearby house, entering through a metal door and stepping into a kitchen where Muliya, Batya, Senior, and Junior sit together chatting. They drink tea and discuss the end of winter and the coming of spring. The scene collapses boundaries between family, enemies, and the supernatural.

later that day Rostov house

Confusion met with stoic counsel

Overwhelmed, Middle admits he cannot parse what he has witnessed. Senior offers a blunt, almost soothing perspective: accept things as they are and wish everyone a good spring. The advice sits oddly well in the room, softening the tension with absurd warmth.

immediate moment after kitchen scene Rostov house

The moment of surreal closure

As they toast to spring, the laughter erupts among all four—Muliya, Batya, Senior, and Junior—blurring lines between truth and performance. The scene caps the journey with a sense of absurd completion and a quiet, dreamlike harmony. The film closes on a note where borders between identities dissolve.

end Rostov house

A Fairy Tale for the Old Characters

Explore all characters from A Fairy Tale for the Old (2022). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Mulya (Evgeniy Tkachuk)

A notorious stash-keeper whose vanishing sparks rumors of his return. His absence drives the pursuit across cities, casting a shadow over every encounter. He embodies criminal power and mystique, reminding the others that truth is slippery in the underworld.

🗝️ Criminal 🕵️‍♂️ Enigmatic

Junior (Roman Mikhailov)

The youngest brother who reconnects with an old acquaintance in Saint Petersburg, only to find that supposed helpers may be targeting his friend. He navigates shifting loyalties and deception, revealing a mix of vulnerability and resolve as the search continues.

🗡️ Brother 🧭 Pursuit

Batya (Anatoliy Tishin)

The crime boss who sends his three sons to hunt Mulya, maintaining cold control over a dangerous network. He embodies calculated power and calm menace, using the pursuit to test loyalties and orchestrate outcomes from behind the scenes.

👑 Crime Boss 🧊 Cruel

Mulya's Girlfriend (Viktoriya Miroshnichenko)

A quiet, devoted presence tied to Mulya through affection. She represents personal stakes beyond the criminal world and adds emotional texture to the race across cities. Her role grounds the story in human concern amid tension and intrigue.

💞 Lover 🕊️ Hope

Dwarf (Aleksey Inglevich)

A skilled dwarf who helps locate people in Novosibirsk, guiding the team through snowbound ruins. His practical insight contrasts with the film's surreal mood, offering a grounded counterpoint to the dreamlike pursuit.

🧝‍♂️ Helper 🧭 Guide

A Fairy Tale for the Old Settings

Learn where and when A Fairy Tale for the Old (2022) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

The events span late winter turning into early spring, across Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Rostov. The contemporary setting feels timeless, not tied to a specific year. The seasonal shift heightens the film's surreal tone as the characters pursue Mulya. The journey moves between bars, abandoned buildings, wakes, and festive processions.

Location

Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov

The film is set in three Russian cities: Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Rostov. Snowy streets, historic architecture, and bustling urban centers provide a varied backdrop. In Novosibirsk, the action moves through abandoned buildings and snowy wastelands; in Rostov, a wake scene unfolds among locals. Saint Petersburg offers a mysterious elevator ride to a secret location, adding a surreal twist.

❄️ Snowy 🏙️ Cityscape 🧭 Cross-city

A Fairy Tale for the Old Themes

Discover the main themes in A Fairy Tale for the Old (2022). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🪪

Identity

The narrative toys with who people truly are, using look-alikes, misidentifications, and shifting loyalties to blur the line between friend and foe. Characters carry hidden histories that complicate trust and motive. The surreal tone amplifies questions about what defines a person in a world of crime and illusion.

🧭

Pursuit

A cross-city hunt drives the plot, exposing how pursuit shapes perception and choices. Clues lead through diverse locales—from snowy ruins to crowded streets—yet clarity remains elusive. The chase intensifies the sense that reality and deception are inseparable facets of the story.

🤝

Loyalties

Power, family ties, and betrayed trust govern the actions of Batya and his three sons. Loyalties are tested as allies turn into threats and vice versa. The ending suggests that in this world, cooperation is fragile and survival often hinges on accepting unsettling truths.

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A Fairy Tale for the Old Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of A Fairy Tale for the Old (2022). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a bleak stretch of post‑Soviet Russia where the ordinary and the absurd coexist on the same cracked pavement, a formidable crime boss known only as Dad rules his domain with a mix of iron will and cryptic generosity. Rumors flutter through the cold air—talk of a once‑trusted keeper of the gang’s hidden fortune, Mulya, who vanished three years ago and was presumed dead, only to be sighted anew in distant cities. The mere hint of his return sends tremors through the underworld, suggesting that old debts and forgotten loyalties may be resurfacing under a veil of mystery.

To confront this unsettling whisper, Dad summons his three most reliable enforcers—Senior, Middle, and Junior—each a distinct embodiment of experience, pragmatism, and restless curiosity. Bound by a complex web of duty and brotherhood, they share a history that is as much about personal code as it is about the unspoken rules of the criminal world they inhabit. Their dynamic is marked by a gritty camaraderie that can shift in an instant from solemn resolve to darkly comic banter, reflecting the surreal tone that permeates their every move.

The trio is dispatched across the Russian expanse, from the frosted avenues of Saint Petersburg to the stark horizons of Novosibirsk and the sun‑baked streets of Rostov. Though each city bears its own flavor of desolation and hidden vigor, they all pulse with the same undercurrent of unresolved questions. As the enforcers set out, the audience is invited to linger on the atmospheric contrast between winter’s lingering chill and the promise of an imminent spring, a metaphor for the uneasy balance between order and chaos that defines their world.

Through this journey the film weaves a tapestry of strange encounters, whispered folklore, and a lingering sense that reality may be just one layer beneath a carnival of costumes and cryptic gatherings. The atmosphere remains deliberately ambiguous, urging viewers to wonder what lies beyond the next frost‑covered alley and whether the elusive Mulya is a phantom of the past or a catalyst for something far stranger.