I think it's a movie about Russia. An Italian illusionist and stooge fooling well-to-do people with occult and magic like illusionist tricks, perhaps a copy of modern Copperfield, but with emphasis on occult, spiritualism, however presented as secret knowledge, and finally a businessman, comes on tour to Russia, where he hopes to find lots of rich monkeys who are ready to give their brilliants and money to the mystical stooge, who offers his magic for solving their problems. Has he succeeded ? Watch the movie. The Love formula opens in very simple, everyday things, so trivial as "greatest magician of all times" going in bed with flu and is watched by the village doctor who doesn't give a care about all his "magical" bluff, and softly mocks the "magical" show off, while the police is already on his heels.

This movie definitely deserves 10/10. A brilliant piece of pure art. This is an outstanding example of how real movies are being made, especially the low budget ones. I can understand totally the above-mentioned reviewer for not understanding the beauty of it. I am sorry to say but this movie is not for simpleminded rednecks around /if any/. I highly doubt if any viewer not with Russian roots can understand the high satire of Alexey Tolstoi *for simpleminded also - this is NOT Lev Nikolayevich who wrote WAR AND PEACE, he is SF (mostly) author!* This is undoubtedly one of the best in its genre and it is definitely worth looking. I had the tremendous pleasure of buying this gem on DVD in Moscow and have watched it several times since. Greatly recommended!

Wonderful script! Story about Count di Cagliostro - surrounded by extravagant assistants (con artists), coming to Russia. Got himself into trouble, within short period of time, he had to run away from law enforcement troops. On his way from St. Petersburg to Europe Cagliostro with his cortege, manages to break his carriage, and stuck in the middle of the Russia for unknown period of time...

I saw it first time when I was about 11? so by this time I've seen it about ten times. This film really irritates me with its endless optimism. The song which heroes of A. Abdulov and S. Farada sing about 7 times during the film simply kills me. The others actors are mostly wooden and not impressing. If you want to see a really good comedy from Mark Zakharov, watch "12 chairs" (TV-series).