this be a wonderful little film that truly be creative and fun something you see all too seldom in movie . the film begin in russia just after the fall of the communist government . a a result and society seem to be in chaos and life have yet to improve now that the old regime be go . dirty city and crime and lack of housing still plague the poor resident of st. petersburg . into this scene of bleakness and uncertainty come an idealistic music teacher . he be among those without a home and he finally get a letter from the government that tell him he have a tiny room in a nearby flat . when he arrive and the place be a mess but the people seem friendly enough so they all have a lovely party . in the middle of the night and they be awaken by an old lady walk out of the giant wardrobe in the room ( i be half expecting lucy and the other kid from the lion and the witch and the wardrobe to come out and but they do not ) . they be too shock to do anything at first but decide soon to investigate . instead of just be a clothes closet and the wardrobe open into paris . how the resident of the flat respond to this magical gateway be really intriguing . some and like the music teacher and be thrill and in awe . most of the others be more pragmatic and be mostly concern with loot everything from paris before the gateway close once and for all . these russian thief be awful people greedy and coarse and crude but down deep very deep be heart of gold . i like how this be a metaphor for the nation now on the brink of capitalism . at first and they run amok grab everything they can and only later do they reveal some depth but mostly they act much like guest on the jerry springer show . the film have many twist and turn and be both funny and mesmerizing . about the only negative be that due to some harsh language and a nude scene ( albeit and a very funny one ) and this be not a film for kid . this be a real shame and a with some very minor editing and this could have be a great family film .