Liquidation (miniseries)

Liquidation
DVD cover
Directed by	Sergei Ursuliak
Starring	Vladimir Mashkov, Mikhail Porechenkov, Sergei Makovetsky, Vladimir Menshov, Konstantin Lavronenko, Svetlana Kryuchkova, Andrey Krasko, Aleksandr Semchev, Kseniya Rappoport, Lika Nifontova, Polina Agureeva.
Release date(s)	2007
Running time	644 min
Country	Russia
Language	Russian

Liquidation (2007) (Russian: Ликвидация, Likvidatsiya) is a highly popular Russian television series, which parallels the famous The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed with notable ethical shift. In the "Meeting Place", chief of criminal investigations Gleb Zheglov (played by Vladimir Vysotskiy) had a modus operandi "Thief must go to prison, no matter how I put him there" (and he used to plant evidence, too).

In "Liquidation", chief of criminal investigations David Gotsman's (played by Vladimir Mashkov) motto has changed to "Thief must go to prison, but lawfully so".

Plot summary

The year is 1946. World War II is over, but it doesn't mean that there is no one to fight with. The post-war city of Odessa is ruled by serial killer prison-escapees and former Nazi collaborators. Fallen into disfavor, Marshal Zhoukov is sent to Odessa by Stalin to handle the situation. Together with the head of the local criminal investigation unit, David Gotsman, Zhoukov begins a special operation under the code name "Liquidation".

The stars of the film include famous Russian actors such as Vladimir Mashkov and Konstantin Lavronenko (The Return, The Banishment). Sergei Makovetsky had to replace Andrey Krasko, who died during the filming.

Quotes

In original, almost all the phrases are spoken with famous Odessa accent.

• "Don't move, I'm Gotsman!"
• "Painted with oil" (Gotsman's favourite saying; means "That's all", "I've finished")
• "Why are you mastering hysterics for me?" (Half-Jewish Phima (Russian "Фима Полужид", "Phima Poluzhid" in transliteration), Gotsman's best friend)
• "What does "little" mean? Sarah also screamed "Little!", and then she had to babysit seven criminals to say nothing of the girls!" (Half-Jewish Phima)
• "So, the doctor told me not to worry, and I won't. Either you tell me what happened or I'll hit your face with all my love!" (Gotsman)
• "What do we have? Misery along with five aces..." (Lekha Yakimenko, Gotsman's workmate)
• "Don't comb my nerves!" (Gotsman)
• "Hello there to you through the window!" (Yakimenko)
• "Don't make innocence on your face to me!" (Gotsman)
• "My girlfriend is crying all the time because of some feelings. I would also cry, but I'm not able to" (Vitaliy Krechetov, Gotsman's helper)
• "Here's the label. I am interested to know what warehouse it came from" (Half-Jewish Phima)
• "Shut your gate!" (Gotsman; means "Shut up!")
• "This is the police department, not a sauna - there are neither naked nor stupid ones here" (Half-Jewish Phima)
• "You buried me too early. Now I will dig you up and stick an aspen stake in for you not to climb out!" (Gotsman)
• "You have lovely shoes, boss" (Gotsman after he was hit in his teeth with a foot)
• "No-no, miss, you don't seem to be an orphan. I can hear from your voice you're really beautiful!" (Gotsman speaking on the phone after he had dialed the wrong number)
• Gotsman: I am very interested - how do you live? You don't work anywhere, wandering behind us all day long...

Half-Jewish Phima: I AM WANDERING??? And who cracked that guy up? Who found the war things warehouse?
Gotsman: So, if you want to help us - become a pointsman. Stay there for a year, and then we'll talk about your entering our police group.
Half-Jewish Phima: WHAT??? Me - into street parrots?!
Gotsman: What's the matter? I had stood into reserve for a whole year!
Half-Jewish Phima: I just love it. I am standing dressed in uniform while all Odessa watches me, and my friend offer this humiliation to me! My ex-best friend!
Gotsman: It's only a variant.
Half-Jewish Phima: David Gotsman, go and dive into shit - I don't know you. I am not interested in walking around only Odessa with you.
Gotsman: Phima, you speak offensively! (follows Phima, but he tries not to see Gotsman behind) I'm going to Mark. Let's go together, eh?
Half-Jewish Phima: No, I'm gonna go there.
Gotsman: But this way's shorter.
Half-Jewish Phima: David Gotsman, go as you wish.

• Aunt Pesya: The best morning to you, Phima!

Half-Jewish Phima: Also to you!

Aunt Pesya: Well, where did it happen?
Half-Jewish Phima: A bit of small trifles. Did you want something, madame Shmuklis?
Aunt Pesya: A little pinch of salt. Ammick, such a happiness, got a fishy!
Half-Jewish Phima: Please tell me, Two Big Upsets got a fishy?
Aunt Pesya: That's it.
Half-Jewish Phima: A whole one? Or just fins?
Aunt Pesya: It waves its tail like a crazy one!
Half-Jewish Phima: You need to fry it. When it's such a thick heat the fish won't stay for a long time.
Aunt Pesya: What I was talking about? But Ammick dropped a pack of salt into a rubbish bin!
Half-Jewish Phima: Whoa, if you add salt to rubbish, it will smell better?
Aunt Pesya: I tell you, Phima, you know about Ammick - if he doesn't break he drops, and not aside the finger - just onto nail!
Ammick: (comes out holding fish and knife) Mother, it woke up and it doesn't want to!
Aunt Pesya: Don't touch the knife, fussmaker! Mom told you not to touch anything!
Ammick: Why are you screaming, mother, I understand words!
Aunt Pesya: Drop it right now! Drop it right now! Idiot! Not the fish, the knife! Aw! Aw! Wait, wait, quiet, shush! Quiet, shush, mom took. Mom will do. Where's the knife? (to Phima) Did you see? Did you see this idiot? (to Ammick) Follow me, sonny.

• Yakimenko: (sitting on the beach and watching a girl in a swimsuit) What's going on? What the hell is going on? David Markowich, I will lead to the Turkish! Girls make me mad with their bodies, whooo...

Gotsman: You should get married!
Yakimenko: What I was talking about? Ha-ha-ha! The only thing is to have not one wife, but five or six, not less. Whoosh! Like this - whoosh! They'll make me mad - and I will go to Turkey with smuggled goods!
Gotsman: Lesha, the Turkish will cut your smuggled goods off!
Yakimenko: Cut off! Something will be left. Hey, hey, girl! Hey you all! All to sides! The old steed doesn't spoil the land! (splash)

External links

• Likvidatsiya at the Internet Movie Database
• Movie Trailer and Screenshots