Moscow, 1876. The very young, 20-year-old Fandorin, played by Ilya Noskov, works as an ordinary clerk at the police department, but fate throws him into a whirlwind of extremely dangerous events that will allow the young man to come closer to his dream and become a real detective. Erast takes an interest in the mysterious suicide of a very wealthy student and, unlike his experienced colleagues, senses that certain mysterious figures are behind the crime.
"Azazel" fully reveals the author’s detective talent, carefully brought to the screen by the director. Adabashyan enlisted substantial resources, among both the younger generation—particularly the then little-known Sergei Bezrukov—and acclaimed masters such as Oleg Basilashvili and Marina Neyolova. However, the film’s main virtue is its gripping action, from which it is impossible to tear oneself away even for a minute. Surveillance, chases, and danger. Fights, gunfire, and explosions. Discoveries, hopes, and disappointments. "Azazel" has everything a top-class detective story should possess. Ilya Noskov showed how a naïve idealist began his transformation into a seasoned investigator.
