23 (1998)

Director:

Hans-Christian Schmid

Writers:

Michael Dierking (co-writer)
Michael Gutmann (writer)

Release Date:

14 January 1999 (Germany)

Genre:

Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Nichts ist so wie es scheint.

Plot:

The movie's plot is based on the true story of a group of young computer hackers from Hannover, Germany...

Plot Keywords:

Computer | KGB | Computer Cracking | Cracking | Hacker

Awards:

7 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

August Diehl	...	Karl Koch
Fabian Busch	...	David
Dieter Landuris	...	Pepe
Jan Gregor Kremp	...	Lupo
Stephan Kampwirth	...	Jochen Maiwald
Zbigniew Zamachowski	...	Sergej
Peter Fitz	...	Brückner
Burghart Klaußner	...	Weber (as Burghart Klaussner)
Lilly Marie Tschörtner	...	Beate (as Lilly Tschörtner)
Patrick Joswig	...	Alex
Arnulf Schumacher	...	Seybert
Sven Lehmann	...	Computerverkäufer / Computer Sales Agent
Oscar Ortega Sánchez	...	Mr. Minit
Brigitte Janner	...	Sekretärin / Secretary
Katrin Klein	...	Sekretärin / Secretary

Also Known As:

23 - Nichts ist so wie es scheint (Germany)

Runtime:

99 min | Argentina:100 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German | English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:R(A) | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Spain:13 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Claussen & Wöbke Filmproduktion GmbH

Trivia:

The other side of the story (the hunter's) is told in the movie The KGB, the Computer and Me (1990) (TV)

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film is set at the end of the 1980s. In the film a Volkswagen Golf III can be seen, which was first sold in 1991.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lichter (2003)

Soundtrack:

Rauchhaus Song

Best german movie for a long time

"23" is one of the best german movies for a long time. It is based on the story of the life of Karl Koch (August Diehl: excellent) who was one of the best hackers of his time. 23 is the number of the Illuminators, the members of a worldwide secret society in the book "Illuminatus" by Robert Anton Wilson (who has a short guest appearance). On his high point of hacking Koch broke into the computers of US government arms control and delivered the data to the KGB. The film is a trip back to the 80's: The cold war, Olof Palme's assassination, Gadhaffi and Tschernobyl - most of the viewers will remember those things which dominated policy and influenced the all day life. The film shows the development of Karl Koch from his teenage years to his death as a person destroyed by his cocaine abuse and the extreme pressure he experienced in the wheels of eatern/western policy. This is a very good movie with very good actors-don't miss it!