Russia at the beginning of the 1990s: a country in the throes of a painful
transition fromthe Soviet planned economy to a free market. Simple people,
who once enjoyed stable living conditions,were distraught and fearful.
A former research assistant, Sergey Mamontov, dismissed due to government
cuts, looks for a way to apply himself and his uncomplicated
mind. He orders a template for a share certificate with a ligature and the
old Czarist Imperial crown, rich ornamentation,watermarks, and his own
portrait right in the center. The price of these certificates, which resemble
banknotes, he sets himself, and he starts to trade in them on the principle
that today’s price is always higher than yesterday’s. Just over twoweeks proves
long enough for the nation to stand in line for his “Mamontovki” (as
these certificates come to be called) and in the process, he virtually becomes
a national hero. The movie is based on true events, and its principal
character is modeled on Sergey Mavrodi, the architect of the lamentable
MMMpyramid scheme that swallowed the savings of thousands of Russian
citizens in the 1990s.
Source : Action! Cannes Special Edition 2010
