And it is actually better in my view. The plot is simple, a group of people working together try to decide which 4 people of the group will not be allocated a parking spot. The situation is quite real and everyone can relate. The depiction is more truthful and convincing than 12 Angry Man. Acting is so excellent that it is very easy to forget this is a movie. Dynamics, which is not as dramatic as 12 Angry Men, is more complicated and deeper. While people can probably guess the direction of ending from the beginning, the plot is intriguing and several times it feels there is a dead end and then there is a solution. somewhat like Prison Break season 1, which is a completely different story but the essence of script writing is comparable. Certainly a classic!

There's a great moment in The Garage where one of the characters says that she studied contemporary Russian satire, and another congratulates her on being able to study something that doesn't exist yet. To put that in the middle of such a biting satire as this, the filmmakers must have known exactly how daring they were being. The Garage is daring not just in its content -- which on a basic level shows the Soviet system of local collectives to be corrupt and dysfunctional -- but in its form. It's a full length film that operates by locking all its characters in one room and letting them argue with each other for its entire length. It's a kind of conceptual minimalism that's a huge risk, but it does pay off. The characters are largely likable eccentrics as individuals, but as a group they come to embody a black-as-pitch view of humanity as a whole -- and that's where the film transcends being an indictment of the fine points of Soviet local government in the late seventies, and becomes a piece of art with something to say about humanity itself. In short, people are shown to be completely beastly to each other over such trivia as a parking space -- not just self-interested but often disloyal and heartless. In the end, they come up with a "fair" solution of drawing lots only after torturing each other all night. And when the unlucky lot is the only one left and the selection is therefore no longer random, everyone gangs up on the one snoozing man who has not chosen to make him a victim. The sweetness of some of the touches to the stories of the characters that are assembled here can be tasted just enough to make the bitterness of the satire still palatable. Even still, the film is not exactly always easy to watch, even though it's often very funny. There's also a stellar cast assembled, which is essential for such a contained, character-driven piece. I've seen a few of Ryanzanov's films now, and I think he assembled a collection of favorites whom he knew to be reliable here. The premise may border on the absurd, but it's done with such conviction that I think everyone must feel they've been in an association that might behave in exactly the same shameful way. And that makes it horrifyingly apt satire.

"The Garage" is a film which you do not get tired to reconsider. It, as well as almost all Soviet comedies of that time, consists all of aphorisms of our cinema which are used till now by people in dialogue.In my opinion, it undoubtedly one of the best comedy domestic films! "The Garage" is good such what it is: the brilliant actor's constellation, the interesting plot, the closed space. The director fairly and with humour says about a Soviet period, about people and things, that in any conditions is necessary to remain people, instead of the animals fighting for a place in the sun The director presents almost all types of human characters. Our country in which it is a lot of discrepancies: meetings of collectives in museums.The decision of financial questions which our person does not postpone even in a wedding-day, after all private life — anything before public, and us not stopped even by children, grandsons.The film not subject to time. Not losing the urgency on an extent here already many years. Classics of world cinema. Unfortunately, the given masterpiece is a little known in the West.Excuse, for my bad English

This movie is one of the best by Riazanov. It's not appreciated as much as "Ironia Sudby", because of its strong satire, I believe many people from former Soviet Union can easily recognize themselves on either side of that usual conflict of interests. And as usual one side has an ultimate advantage, thus gets furiously attacked by other trying to level the disposition. Once being the theater show, the movie preserves the theatrical spirit, the scenes are long and the pace is moderate. Starring actors are usual for Riazanov's cast, all his favorites in: Oleg Miagkov, Lia Ahedzhakova, Gerogy Burkov are performing exceptionally well. As mentioned by previous reviewer, the subject is acceptable for any person familiar with corporate culture and the script is full of hilarious lines, soviet jokes of 70's, and even romance. Highly Recommended!