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Those are called "Khrushchovki", after the Khrushchev-era style of construction that continued right up to the end of the Soviet Union. They come in brick or pre-fab concrete slabs. The slab-type ones let ALL the noise and cold in, and are hotter than an oven in the summertime. Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia are still suffering from these monstrosities.

Some of the older Stalin-era houses are okay - high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, and thick walls, but Khrushchev/Brezhnev/Andropov/Chernenko/Gorby-era buildings were the pits.

These buildings were in a neighborhood outside of Karaganda, and most are slowly being 'mined' for their pipes, wiring, etc. Some people still live there, and there is an active bus stop, believe it or not.

The Russian version of 'It's a Wonderful Life', which they play every New Year's Eve is called 'Ironies of Fate'. The plot concerns a guy who gets drunk with his buddies one New Year's in Moscow and accidentally gets on a plane to Leningrad/Peterburg. Once there, he takes a taxi home, since he thinks he was just seeing someone off at the airport (now that's drunk). In Leningrad, there is a street with the same name as his own in Moscow, and an apartment complex that looks exactly the same, and with the same address. He takes the elevator to his apartment, and his key even works there. He passes out on a couch he can't remember buying, and a cute lady who of course he'll fall in love with comes home with her fiance.

Some great lines in the movie: "Pit' nado men'she" (Gotta drink less), and the songs are by Nikitin and Pugacheva. The actress was Polish, BTW.

Now such a movie wouldn't be possible in the West. Central planning - it's not just for democrats ;-)