wonderful little film truly creative funsomething see seldom movies film begins russia fall communist government result society seems chaos life yet improve old regime gone dirty cities crime lack housing still plague poor residents st petersburgbr br into scene bleakness uncertainty comes idealistic music teacher among without home finally gets letter government tells tiny room nearby flat arrives place mess people seem friendly enough lovely party middle night awakened old lady walking giant wardrobe room i half expecting lucy kids lion witch wardrobe come out didnt shocked anything first decide soon investigate instead clothes closet wardrobe opens paris residents flat respond magical gateway really intriguing some like music teacher thrilled awe others pragmatic mostly concerned looting everything paris gateway closes all russian thieves awful peoplegreedy coarse crude deepvery deepare hearts gold like metaphor nation brink capitalism first run amok grabbing everything later reveal depthbut mostly act much like guests jerry springer show film many twists turns funny mesmerizing negative due harsh language nude scene albeit funny one film kids real shame minor editing could great family film