Khottabych

}{0ТТ@БЬ)Ч / Khottabych

2006 cover of the film
Directed by Peter Tochilin
Produced by Sergey Selyanov
Written by Peter Tochilin (screenplay)
Veronica Voznyak
Sergey Klado (book)
Starring Marius Jampolskis
Vladimir Tolokonnikov
Julia Paranova
Mark Geykhman
Liva Kruminya
Music by Dmitry Shurov
Cinematography Vladimir Zapasov
Victor Zubarev
Igor Grinjakin
Edited by Valery Feodorovich
Distributed by STV Film Company, Mill
Release dates
August 10, 2006 RUS BLR UKR KAZ
Running time
92 min
Country Russia
Language English, Russian
Budget N/A
Box office US$1,382,450 (Russia)

Khottabych (Russian: Хоттабыч [}{0ТТ@БЬ)Ч], Hottabych) is a 2006 Russian comedy folk-tale by STV Film Company, a remake of the 1956 Soviet film Old Khottabych. This film has little in common with the first film, except for some central elements. The film has the screen name K}{OTT@B\)CH, underscoring the film's Internet motif. It is based on the novel The Copper Jar of Old Khottabych by Sergey Oblomov. It opened in theaters on August 10, 2006 at Karoprokat.

Plot summary

A youth named Gena is a hacker hooked on computers and the Internet. His girlfriend is fed up with him, because he pays so little attention to her and so much to his electronic exploits, such as defacing the www.microsoft.com web site.

Attempting to mend his relationship with his girlfriend, he buys an ancient jar from an Internet-auction and finds a genie residing in it. Per the fairy-tale tradition, he is offered three wishes. First, the genie, named Hottabych by Gena, prints a huge number of US$100 banknotes. Unfortunately Hottabych is not familiar with modern paper, and the banknotes are printed on Egyptian papyrus. This later sets off a chain of events leading back to Gena.

Unbeknownst to him, the local mafia is aware of Gena's skills and is intent on forcing him to gain entrance to bank computers. Furthermore, the Russian and American police forces are attempting to locate him because of his recent activity on the Internet. The Americans send a female hacker named Annie to trick Gena into revealing himself, which he does. After a rocky start to their relationship, romance ensues.

Things are further complicated by an evil genie named Shaitanych who is also hunting for the jar, in an attempt to collect all 13 genie-vessels and gain dominion over Earth. After Hottabych grants Gena's final wish, he decides to become a mortal man and is subsequently killed by Shaitanych. Left with nothing but a strand of Hottabych's hair, Gena and Annie decode his DNA and upload the binary code into the Internet, where a final battle takes place between Hottabych and Shaitanych.

Cast

In Episodes

Ivan Gubanov, Boris Shcherbakov, Svetlana Pavlova, Sambel Asatryan, Konstantin Kutarov, A. Dubrovsky, Nickolay Dobrokhotov, O.Vlasova, Polina Ganshina, V. Zubarev, Mila Soldatkina, M. Jarov, M. Karmadonova, A. Epaneshnikov, Alexander Selezneov, Maxim Vajov, Pavel Sirotin, Elena Volkova, O. Poplavsky, M. Rubcov, E. Ozhigina, Dmitry Talancev, A. Stankevich, D. Charikov, J. Tonis, M. Pozdnyakova, G. Kosarev, A. Shatohin, S. Prohorov, A. Kurina, A. Krasotkin, U. Ashihmin, U. Voloshenko, A. Timarev, S. Venediktov, A. Vozny, R.Ibutsi, P. Bugrilova, O.Vornovskov, I.Boyko, I.Bajenov

Features

Music score, lyrics, songs

Trivia

Pobeda M20 car, used in the film

Video release

Film released by Soyuz Video (Russian: Союз Видео) on VHS and DVD in 2006 August without subtitles, and also on PAL DVD-editions by Karoprokat with subtitles and the trailer of the film. In United States and Canada, it was released on VHS and DVD without subtitles and with English simultaneous interpretation on system NTSC on September 11.

Aspect ratio - 16:9 (1.85:1).

External links