Ostap Bender. The Beginning (2021): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2021, Ostap Bender. The Beginning is a comedy, drama and adventure film directed by Igor Zaytsev.

What it’s about. Russian Empire, 1919. By a twist of fate, young idealist Osip Zadunaisky meets an infamous con artist and self-proclaimed Turkish subject Ibrahim Bender. A man of pure thought and aristocratic upbringing, Osip would never have associated with a cunning and unscrupulous swindler, but Bender comes up with an offer Osip cannot refuse. A precious royal relic, a diamond-encrusted golden scepter is hidden somewhere in town; Bender needs a partner on his mission to find it, and offers Osip a share of the profit from selling the treasure. And so begins their joint venture, wrought with comical and dangerous twists and turns, where they have to outsmart and outmaneuver officers of the White Guard as well as the local mafia, who also have their eyes on the scepter. As their quest unfolds, Osip is compelled to learn Bender’s tricks of the trade: charming flattery, delicate deception, soft intimidation... as well as brute force.

Who’s in it. Ostap Bender. The Beginning stars Sergei Bezrukov as Ibrahim Suleiman Berta-Maria Bender-bay, Aram Vardevanyan as Ostap Zadunayskiy, Nikita Kologrivyi as Mishka Yaponchik and Taisiya Vilkova as Eva Mahulskaya - swindler, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.8/10, Ostap Bender. The Beginning has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ostap Bender. The Beginning page.

If you liked it. Fans of Ostap Bender. The Beginning tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.