# Kin-dza-dza! > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kin-dza-dza! > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kin-dza-dza!.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin-dza-dza! > Source revision: 1348319482 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{for|the animated remake|Ku! Kin-dza-dza}} {{Infobox film |name = Kin-dza-dza! |native_name = {{Infobox name module|language=ru|title=Кин-дза-дза!|nolink=yes}} |image = Kin-dza-dza-VHS.jpg |caption = VHS cover |director = [Georgiy Daneliya](/source/Georgiy_Daneliya) |producer = |writer = {{ubl|[Georgiy Daneliya](/source/Georgiy_Daneliya)|[Revaz Gabriadze](/source/Revaz_Gabriadze)}} |starring = {{ubl|[Stanislav Lyubshin](/source/Stanislav_Lyubshin)|[Yevgeni Leonov](/source/Yevgeni_Leonov)|[Yury Yakovlev](/source/Yury_Yakovlev)|[Levan Gabriadze](/source/Levan_Gabriadze)}} |music = [Gia Kancheli](/source/Gia_Kancheli) |cinematography = [Pavel Lebeshev](/source/Pavel_Lebeshev) |editing = Natalya Dobrunova |distributor = Sovexportfilm |released = {{Film date|1986|12|1|df=y}} |country = Soviet Union |runtime = 135 minutes |language = {{hlist|Russian|[Georgian](/source/Georgian_language)}} |budget = }} '''''Kin-dza-dza!''''' ({{langx|ru|Кин-дза-дза!}}, {{Lang-ka|ქინ-ძა-ძა!}}) is a 1986 Soviet film released by the [Mosfilm](/source/Mosfilm) studio and directed by [Georgiy Daneliya](/source/Georgiy_Daneliya), with a story by Georgiy Daneliya and [Revaz Gabriadze](/source/Revaz_Gabriadze). It is a [dystopian](/source/Dystopia) science-fiction comedy, in which two men from the [Soviet Union](/source/Soviet_Union) [accidentally travel](/source/accidental_travel) through space, meeting two aliens from the Kin-dza-dza star system and their post-apocalyptic world. ==Plot== The story begins in 1980s Moscow. Vladimir Mashkov (not to be confused with the [Russian actor with the same name](/source/Vladimir_Mashkov)), aka Uncle Vova, a construction foreman, returns home to his apartment after a stressful day at work. His wife asks him to buy some groceries, so Vova goes out to the nearest store. Standing right in the city centre on Kalinin Prospekt (now New Arbat Avenue), is a barefoot man, dressed in a tattered coat, who appeals to passersby with a strange request: "Tell me the number of your planet in the Tentura? Or at least the number of your galaxy in the spiral?". Uncle Vova and a young Georgian student with a violin (The Violinist) stop and talk to the strange man. During a short conversation, the stranger shows them a [teleportation](/source/teleportation) device, which he calls a "device for moving in space". Uncle Vova decides to test the veracity of the stranger's story, and despite the stranger's warnings, presses a random button on the device. Suddenly, Uncle Vova and the Violinist find themselves transported to the planet "Pluke" in the "Kin-dza-dza" galaxy. The natives of the planet appear human, with deceptively primitive-looking technology and a barbaric culture, which satirically resembles that of humans. They are [telepathic](/source/telepathic); the only spoken words normally used in their culture are "ku" (koo) and "kyu" (kyoo), the former stands for everything good, the latter being a swear word that stands for every bad thing. However, the Plukanians are able to quickly adapt to speaking and understanding Russian and Georgian. The society of Pluke is divided into two categories: "Chatlanians" and "Patsaks" ("пацак" is a backward spelling of "кацап", a derogatory term for Russians, or according to another opinion, from "пацан", "patsan" a young guy). The difference is ascertained only by means of a small handheld device, the "visator"; when pointed at a member of the Chatlanian group, an orange light on the device comes on; when pointed at a member of the Patsak group, a green light comes on. It is also noted that the social differences between Patsaks and Chatlanians are not constant: Pluke being a Chatlanian planet, Chatlanians are privileged, and a system of rituals must be followed by the Patsaks to show flattery; however, there are Patsak planets where Patsaks hold the upper hand and where Chatlanians are subservient. The "visator" shows that Uncle Vova and the Violinist are Patsaks. The only group allowed to use weapons ("tranklucators") and enforce their will are the "ecilopps" ("police" spelled backwards). Outside being a Patsak or Chatlanin, respect towards others is determined by the color of their pants; different shades require those of lower social standing to "ku" at them a predetermined number of times, displaying their submission. The nominal leader of the Plukanian society is Mr. P-Zh. Everyone does their best to display fervent worship to him and disrespect is severely punished. However, when encountered in person, P-Zh appears harmless and dumb. The fuel of Pluke is called "luts" and is made from water. All naturally present water has apparently been processed into luts, so drinking water is a valuable commodity (in fact, it can only be made from luts). A good deal of the plot is based on the fact that ordinary wooden matchsticks ("ketse") are considered to be extremely valuable on Pluke. Uncle Vova and the Violinist meet two locals, Uef and Bi, who at various points either help or abandon the Earthling duo in their quest to return to Earth, which at various times involves repairing Uef and Bi's ship or raiding P-Zh's private compound. Eventually, the man from the film's beginning returns Uncle Vova and the Violinist back in time to the very beginning of the film. As Uncle Vova heads outside, however, there is no man at the city center; furthermore, when he runs into the Violinist there, they do not recognize each other. Suddenly, a passing tractor with a flashing, orange light reminds them of the "ecilopps", and they both reflexively squat and say, "ku!", as it was required on Pluke. They immediately recognize each other. Uncle Vova, looking at the sky, hears the sound of a song performed by Uef and Bi. ==Cast (in order of appearance)== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *[Stanislav Lyubshin](/source/Stanislav_Lyubshin) as Vladimir Nikolayevitch Mashkov ("Uncle Vova") *[Galina Daneliya-Yurkova](/source/Galina_Daneliya-Yurkova) as Lyusia, Mashkov's wife *[Levan Gabriadze](/source/Levan_Gabriadze) as Gedevan Alexandrovitch Alexidze ("Violinist") *[Anatoli Serenko](/source/Anatoli_Serenko) as the Barefoot Wanderer from Uzm *[Yury Yakovlev](/source/Yury_Yakovlev) as Bi the Patsak, a wandering singer *[Yevgeny Leonov](/source/Yevgeny_Leonov) as Uef the Chatlanian, a wandering singer *[Igor Khan](/source/Igor_Khan) as the one-handed smuggler *[Alexander Litovkin](/source/Alexander_Litovkin) as the gang leader *[Valentin Bukin](/source/Valentin_Bukin) as black-moustached ecilop in an egg-shaped pepelats, demonstrating how a tranklucator works *[Irina Shmelyova](/source/Irina_Viktorovna_Shmelyova) as Tsan, the cart driver ([tachanka](/source/tachanka)-driving woman, a wandering singer and dancer) *[Lev Perfilov](/source/Lev_Perfilov) as Kyrr, the dissident Chatlanian with a tranklucator *[Nina Ruslanova](/source/Nina_Ruslanova) as Galina Borisovna, the vice-dean *[Yuri Voronkov](/source/Yuri_Voronkov) as bearded Chatlanian, leader of the "Children of the Sun" sect (later seen in the subway train, pretending to be a Patsak) *[Olesya Ivanova](/source/Olesya_Ivanova) as cage-banging white sectarian woman *[Lyudmila Solodenko](/source/Lyudmila_Solodenko) as sand-throwing black sectarian girl *[Vitali Leonov](/source/Vitali_Leonov) as Shorty (from the sect) *[Nikolai Garo](/source/Nikolay_Garo) as Mr. P-Zh *[Igor Bogolyubov](/source/Igor_Bogolyubov) as Mr. P-Zh's personal Patsak and grey-moustached elderly ecilop in an egg-shaped pepelats, who will want "40 chatles" and "immediately press the kappa" in a later scene *[Victor Marenkov](/source/Victor_Marenkov) as Patsak, wearing a coil pipe for a mask and working as watchman *[Yelena Mashkova-Sulakadze](/source/Yelena_Mashkova-Sulakadze) as watchman's wife (redheaded Patsak woman in the trapdoor) *[Gennady B.Ivanov](/source/Gennady_B.Ivanov) as black ecilop, guarding the underground communications *[Aleksandra Dorokhina](/source/Aleksandra_Dorokhina) as colossal Chatlanian woman, working as attendant in the subway station *[Victor Makhmutov](/source/Victor_Makhmutov) as the red-headed Chatlanian *[Vladimir Fyodorov](/source/Vladimir_Fyodorov_(actor)) as Mr. Yellow Pants * Yelena Antonova as Mr. Yellow Pants' girlfriend *[Tatyana Novitskaya](/source/Tatyana_Novitskaya) as an employee in the planetarium *[Yuri Naumtsev](/source/Yuri_Naumtsev) as the judge *[Gennady Yalovich](/source/Gennady_Yalovich) as secret agent *[Veronica Izotova](/source/Veronica_Izotova) as the gang leader's female Chatlanian slave, wearing a collar *[Vladimir Razumovsky](/source/Vladimir_Razumovsky) as ecilop with muzzles *[Nina Ter-Osipian](/source/Nina_Ter-Osipian) as Mr. P-Zh's noble mother *[Harri Schweitz](/source/Harri_Schweitz) as Mr. P-Zh's 1st bodyguard (bearded fat man) *[Valentin Golubenko](/source/Valentin_Golubenko) as Mr. P-Zh's 2nd bodyguard (long-nosed power man) *[Oleg Matveyev](/source/Oleg_Matveyev) as Mr. P-Zh's 3rd bodyguard (young man wearing gloves) *[Olga Mashnaya](/source/Olga_Mashnaya) as Dekont (from the planet Alpha) *[Georgiy Daneliya](/source/Georgiy_Daneliya) as Abradox (from the planet Alpha) * Varvara Vladimirova as young Alphian mother * Anya Andriyanova as little blonde Alphian girl {{div col end}} ==Plukanian language== Since Plukanians are depicted as telepathic in the movie, they use very few spoken words to communicate. These include: * Ketse ([stress](/source/stress_(linguistics)) on the second syllable) – a stick that looks like a match; * Chatl – a currency unit; * Tsak – a small bell worn on the nose to indicate the low social status of the wearer;{{cite web | url=https://indiescifi451.wordpress.com/2017/03/25/kin-dza-dza/ | title=Kin-Dza-Dza! | date=25 March 2017 }} * Tentura and Antitentura – two opposite parts of the Universe. Some planets and galaxies exist in Antitentura (including Earth, number 013 in the Tentura, seventh in Spiral) and some in Tentura; * Pepelats – an interplanetary spacecraft (from the Georgian პეპელა ''p’ep’ela'', "butterfly");{{cite web | url=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/obY30w | title=Pepelats (From Kin-dza-dza movie), Karina Akopyan }}{{cite web | url=http://www.bessarabov.in.ua/shop/ku-kin-dza-dza-en/ | title=Ku! Kin-Dza-Dza! Pepelats }} * Tsappa – a component for different machines. A "big tsappa" is a very important component for the pepelats. A "small tsapa" is a component for the gravitsappa; without the small tsappa, a gravitsappa will not work. Described as being similar to a very rusty screwnut; * Gravitsappa – a component for the pepelats which allows intergalactic travel (from "gravity" + "tsappa"); * Tranklucator – a weapon; * Kappa – any trigger; * Luts or loots – the fuel used by the pepelats, originally made of water; * Visator – a compact device which detects difference between Patsaks and Chatlanians; * Chatlanian – a being with a high [social status](/source/social_status) (detected as "orange" on a visator); * Patsak – a being with a low social status (detected as "green" on a visator); * Ecilopp – a policeman (from the English word "police" spelled backwards); * Etsikh – a box for prisoners, also the imprisonment in such box (as a penalty), and also a jail with many such boxes (the word "etsikh" is from the Georgian ციხე ''tsikhe'', "prison"). A harsher version is "etsikh with nails". * Kyu – a socially-acceptable profanity; * Ku (pronounced "koo") – every single other word.{{Cite web | title=Kin-dza-dza! : languagehat.com | url=https://languagehat.com/kin-dza-dza/ | access-date=2025-11-23 | website=languagehat.com}} ==Releases== In 2005, [RUSCICO](/source/RUSCICO) (Russian Cinema Council) released a version with the original Russian sound and additional English and French dubbing. It also has subtitles in English and other languages.[http://www.ruscico.com/dvd.php?lang=en&dvd=316 DVD disk “Kin-Dza-Dza” ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626000538/http://www.ruscico.com/dvd.php?lang=en&dvd=316 |date=2007-06-26 }} In 2013, a digitally-restored Blu-ray version was released.[http://www.close-up.ru/news/detail.php?ID=9108 Кин-дза-дза! – на Blu-ray Disc] ==Critical response== Thirty years after its original release, ''[Little White Lies](/source/Little_White_Lies_(magazine))'' magazine described ''Kin-dza-dza!'' as "''[Mad Max](/source/Mad_Max)'' meets [Monty Python](/source/Monty_Python) by way of [Tarkovsky](/source/Tarkovsky)" and said it had remained relevant to audiences.{{cite news |last1=Blackledge |first1=Joel |title=In praise of Kin-dza-dza! – the best sci-fi film you've never heard of |url=https://lwlies.com/articles/kin-dza-dza-1986/ |access-date=11 April 2020 |work=Little White Lies |date=17 July 2016}} ''[Russia Beyond](/source/Russia_Beyond)'' agreed that the film was still well-loved by Russians in 2016.{{cite web |last1=Ustian |first1=Gennady |title='Kin-dza-dza!': The Soviet sci-fi satire that has stood the test of time |url=https://www.rbth.com/arts/movies/2016/08/24/kin-dza-dza-the-soviet-sci-fi-satire-that-has-stood-the-test-of-time_623695 |website=Russia Beyond |access-date=11 April 2020 |date=24 August 2016}} On 1 December 2016, Google celebrated the 30th anniversary of ''Kin-Dza-Dza!'' with a [Google Doodle](/source/Google_Doodle).{{cite web|url=https://doodles.google/doodle/30th-anniversary-of-film-kin-dza-dza/|title=30th Anniversary of Film "Kin-Dza-Dza!"|website=Google|date=1 December 2016}} ==Animated remake== {{Main|Ku! Kin-dza-dza}} In 2013, Daneliya released an animated remake of the film, named ''Ku! Kin-dza-dza!'' (''{{lang|ru|Ку! Кин-дза-дза}}'').{{Cite web |url=http://nkino.ru/smi/in-dza-dza-dza.html |title=Ку! Кин-дза-дза-дза – СМИ о фильме – Наше кино |access-date=2012-12-06 |archive-date=2013-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406052157/http://nkino.ru/smi/in-dza-dza-dza.html |url-status=dead }} The animated version was based on the plot of the original film, but was targeted more towards children and international audiences. It had a budget of 140 million rubles.[http://www.ura.ru/content/khanti/16-06-2011/articles/1036256631.html "Кина не будет?" ura.ru] ''Ku! Kin-dza-dza!'' won [Best Animated Feature Film](/source/Asia_Pacific_Screen_Award_for_Best_Animated_Feature_Film) in the 2013 [Asia Pacific Screen Awards](/source/Asia_Pacific_Screen_Awards).{{cite web|title=Winners announced at the 7th Annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards|work=[Asia Pacific Screen Awards](/source/Asia_Pacific_Screen_Awards)|url=http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/2013/12/2013-apsa-winners/|date=12 December 2013}} The animated remake is mainly a traditionally-animated (drawn-by-hand) feature film, with some computer animation. == References == {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== *{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Michael Thomas |title='Kyu': A Semantic Analysis of 'Kin Dza Dza!' |journal=Quarterly Review of Film and Video |date=25 July 2017 |volume=34 |issue=8 |pages=765–774 |doi=10.1080/10509208.2017.1347863|s2cid=148674192 }} ==External links== *{{IMDb title|0091341}} *{{Rotten tomatoes|}} * {{YouTube|EYHv8eJrW2Y|Kin Dza Dza}} with English subtitles {{Georgiy Daneliya}} Category:1986 films Category:1980s science fiction comedy-drama films Category:1980s dystopian films Category:1986 comedy-drama films Category:Mosfilm films Category:Films directed by Georgiy Daneliya Category:Films set in the 1980s Category:Films set in Moscow Category:Films set in the Soviet Union Category:Films shot in Moscow Category:Films shot in Turkmenistan Category:Films shot in Yaroslavl Oblast Category:1986 Soviet films Category:1986 Russian-language films Category:1980s Georgian-language films Category:Fictional-language films Category:Russian comedy-drama films Category:Soviet comedy-drama films Category:Soviet science fiction comedy-drama films Category:Russian science fiction comedy-drama films Category:Russian dystopian films Category:Steampunk films Category:1986 multilingual films Category:Soviet multilingual films Category:Films about teleportation Category:Films set on fictional planets Category:Films about telepathy Category:Films about violins and violinists Category:Films scored by Giya Kancheli Category:1986 science fiction films Category:Soviet science fiction films --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kin-dza-dza!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin-dza-dza!) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin-dza-dza!?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.