Character Relationship Map: Old Hags

Characters

• General (played by Valentin Gaft) — supporting

  A general named Dubovitsky who helps Lyuba and her friends in their effort to recover her apartment from Khomenko. His assistance contributes to the women's campaign, which ultimately leads to the apa...

• Businessman (played by Nikolay Fomenko) — supporting

  A businessman named Khomenko who fraudulently takes possession of Lyuba's luxurious apartment, leaving her without housing or money. He becomes the target of Lyuba's friends, who set out to disrupt hi...

• Theater Administrator (played by Roman Kartsev) — supporting

  A theater administrator named Lazovsky who helps Lyuba and her friends in their efforts against Khomenko. His assistance supports the women as they work to recover Lyuba's apartment, a campaign that s...

• vegetable seller (played by Mamuka Kikaleishvili) — supporting

  The owner of the vegetable shop where Liza works. He repeatedly penalizes her on the alleged grounds that she has stolen money, adding to her difficulties as she earns a living at the market. The plot...

• judge (played by Eldar Ryazanov) — minor

  The judge presides over the trial of Lyuba and her friends after their actions against Khomenko. Once the truth about Khomenko, presented as a victim, comes to light, the judge grants the women an acq...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• vegetable seller → Businessman (Unknown Separate Exploitative Antagonists) — Both are described as exploitative figures affecting the women's lives, but no direct cooperation is established.

  The vegetable seller penalizes one of the women at the market, while the Businessman fraudulently takes possession of another woman's apartment.

• Businessman → General (Conflict Opposing Interests) — The General supports the effort that challenges the Businessman's scheme.

  The General helps the women whose actions are directed at punishing the Businessman and disrupting his criminal business.

• Businessman → Theater Administrator (Conflict Opposing Interests) — The administrator's support places him on the opposite side from the fraudulent businessman.

  The Theater Administrator helps the women in their efforts against the Businessman's fraudulent business.

• Theater Administrator → General (Alliance Co-Supporter) — They function as supporting allies in the women's campaign.

  The theater administrator and the general both help the women recover the apartment from the Businessman.

• Businessman → judge (Conflict Legal Adversary) — The judge's legal decision exposes the Businessman's fraudulent position.

  During the trial, the truth about the Businessman's supposed victim is revealed, and the judge acquits the women.

Story Analysis

Four loyal friends confront economic hardship and a fraudulent businessman, ultimately turning their shared struggle into a new collective life.

Plot Progression

1. Four Lives in Moscow — Four middle-aged women endure difficult jobs and humiliating circumstances in Moscow. Their different backgrounds are balanced by deep loyalty and readiness to help one another.
2. The Apartment Fraud — One woman attempts to sell her inherited apartment and move to cheaper housing. The Businessman fraudulently takes the property, leaving her without money or shelter.
3. Friends Strike Back — The three friends respond to the appeal for help by planning to punish the Businessman. Their puzzling and resourceful actions disrupt his criminal business.
4. The Cost of Justice — With assistance from the Theater Administrator and the General, the women recover the apartment. Because parts of their campaign violate the law, they are imprisoned.
5. Acquittal and New Beginnings — The trial exposes the truth about the Businessman's supposed victim status, and the judge acquits the women. They form the Old Hags group and plan to perform concerts.