Black Square

Black Square

Year: 1992

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: Russian

Director: Yuriy Moroz

MysteryDramaCrime

While investigating an ordinary homicide a group of detectives suddenly find a connection to a very first faces of USSR government.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Black Square (1992)

Trace every key event in Black Square (1992) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Film opens with epigraph and establishes the setting

The movie starts with epigraphs quoting the song Wolf Hunt and a French rendition of La Fin Du Bal, instantly signaling the mood. It places the story in Moscow in late 1982, shortly after Brezhnev's death. We are introduced to Alexander Turetsky, a young trainee investigator, and his mentor Merkulov as they prepare to take on a difficult murder case.

November 1982 Moscow
2

Rakitin's death and Valeria Kupriyanova's murder discovered

Rakitin, a high-ranking official in the foreign trade department, is found hanged near the VDNH exhibition center. On the same day, his lover Valeria Kupriyanova, a Bolshoi Ballet dancer, is found murdered in a hotel room registered under Rakitin's name. The dual killings hint at a larger conspiracy and set the investigators on a dangerous path.

Same day as discovery, December 1982 VDNH (Moscow) and hotel room registered under Rakitin's name
3

Investigation begins: Turetsky and Merkulov take the case

Turetsky and Merkulov launch the formal investigation into the double murder, tracing leads across Moscow. As they dig deeper, they uncover a criminal network dealing in contraband jewels and discover that stolen valuables are hidden in the homes of top officials. The case widens beyond a simple homicide to systemic corruption.

Early December 1982 Moscow
4

Criminal network exposed

The investigators map out a broader network of contraband jewel dealings linked to state actors. They find that stolen valuables are concealed in the residences of high-ranking officials, suggesting a protection racket at the top. The exposure deepens the stakes and the danger to everyone involved.

Early December 1982 Moscow
5

Andropov-era crackdown leads to an arrest

Under Yuri Andropov's push for law and order, authorities arrest Mikhail Georgadze, Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. He dies in custody, highlighting the brutal stakes of the crackdown and the peril facing those in power. The case signals that higher powers will not tolerate resistance.

Late December 1982 (arrest and death in custody) Moscow
6

Turetsky begins a secret affair with Rita Schastlivaya

Amid the investigation, Turetsky begins a secret romantic liaison with Rita Schastlivaya, a forensic expert. The affair complicates his professional judgment and intensifies the personal risks around the case. Their bond becomes a source of tension as state security begins to monitor them.

During investigation, December 1982 Forensic laboratory (Moscow)
7

State security keeps the couple under surveillance

State security agents monitor and intercept Turetsky and Rita as the investigation progresses. The sense of being watched heightens the tension and foreshadows further danger. The surveillance underscores how the case intersects with the shadowy world of espionage.

Throughout investigation, December 1982 Moscow
8

Rakitin uncovers KGB plans to destabilize the world economy

Rakitin had stumbled upon sensitive KGB plans to destabilize the global economy and intended to leak them to a foreign journalist. His knowledge makes him a dangerous liability to powerful interests, providing a motive for those who want him silenced. The discovery ties the murders to a larger scheme at the highest levels of state security.

Before his death, December 1982 Rakitin's office
9

General Kassarine enters the plot

General Kassarine, a KGB officer trafficking gold and gems to finance covert operations abroad, becomes determined to suppress the investigation. He embodies the hidden money moving through the regime to fund secretive actions. His presence escalates the danger facing Turetsky and Merkulov.

Mid investigation, December 1982 KGB network / Moscow
10

Kassarine's coercion and the murder of Rita; Merkulov is injured

Kassarine attempts to recruit Turetsky, but fails to sway him and resorts to violence. Rita Schastlivaya is killed and Merkulov is injured in the ensuing confrontation. The personal and professional stakes collide as the case teeters on the edge of collapse.

During confrontation, December 1982 Moscow
11

Final confrontation and Kassarine's death

The investigation culminates in a final confrontation with Kassarine, who dies in a shootout. Turetsky and Merkulov survive the clash and the truth about the network begins to surface. The power of the regime to enforce silence is finally challenged, if only for a moment.

End of investigation, December 1982 Moscow
12

Turetsky destroys the compromising documents

With the evidence compromised and the truth at risk of leaking, Turetsky burns the dangerous documents. The act preserves some sense of order and shields others from the fallout of the case. He remains committed to pursuing justice within the system.

After shootout, December 1982 Prosecutor's office or storage location, Moscow
13

Resolution: Merkulov recovers and Turetsky continues his work

In the closing scenes, a recovering Merkulov is visited by Turetsky in the hospital. The younger investigator vows to continue working at the prosecutor's office, signaling a grim but hopeful persistence of law and order. The film ends with a sense of unresolved tension but a commitment to the pursuit of justice.

Closing scenes, December 1982 Hospital, Moscow

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:52

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Black Square Summary

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Black Square Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Black Square

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Black Square

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