Difficult Teens

Popular football player Anton Kovalev, after spending two years in prison for a drunken brawl in a cafe, is released. The offense blocked the successful career of Kovalev, who was previously the captain of the Russian national team. The reputation of a "downed pilot" does not allow him to continue his favorite business and get a prestigious job. The head of the center for difficult teenagers, Herman, who once raised Anton, offers him a place in the center to prepare difficult children for the local Olympics. Out of desperation, Kovalev agrees to the offer, but he does not even imagine how difficult it will be to find a common language with the guys, and what an important place they can take in his life.

Directed by Rustam Ilyasov, Difficult Teens leans on a strong ensemble — Nikita Volkov, Vitaliy Andreev, Anastasia Krylova — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2019.