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23

Original title: 23 - Nichts ist so wie es scheint
  • 1998
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
7.6K
YOUR RATING
23 (1998)
When the orphaned Karl Koch and his friend David start breaking into government and military computers, an acquaintance senses that there is money in computer cracking - and travels to east Berlin to try to contact the KGB.
Play trailer1:39
1 Video
24 Photos
DramaThriller

When the orphaned Karl Koch and his friend David start breaking into government and military computers, an acquaintance senses that there is money in computer cracking - and travels to east ... Read allWhen the orphaned Karl Koch and his friend David start breaking into government and military computers, an acquaintance senses that there is money in computer cracking - and travels to east Berlin to try to contact the KGB.When the orphaned Karl Koch and his friend David start breaking into government and military computers, an acquaintance senses that there is money in computer cracking - and travels to east Berlin to try to contact the KGB.

  • Director
    • Hans-Christian Schmid
  • Writers
    • Hans-Christian Schmid
    • Michael Gutmann
    • Michael Dierking
  • Stars
    • August Diehl
    • Fabian Busch
    • Dieter Landuris
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    7.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Hans-Christian Schmid
    • Writers
      • Hans-Christian Schmid
      • Michael Gutmann
      • Michael Dierking
    • Stars
      • August Diehl
      • Fabian Busch
      • Dieter Landuris
    • 29User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:39
    Trailer

    Photos23

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    Top cast43

    Edit
    August Diehl
    August Diehl
    • Karl Koch
    Fabian Busch
    Fabian Busch
    • David
    Dieter Landuris
    Dieter Landuris
    • Pepe
    Jan-Gregor Kremp
    • Lupo
    Stephan Kampwirth
    Stephan Kampwirth
    • Jochen Maiwald
    Zbigniew Zamachowski
    Zbigniew Zamachowski
    • Sergej
    Peter Fitz
    • Brückner
    Burghart Klaußner
    Burghart Klaußner
    • Weber
    Lilly Marie Tschörtner
    • Beate
    • (as Lilly Tschörtner)
    Patrick Joswig
    • Alex
    Arnulf Schumacher
    • Seybert
    • (as Arnulf Schuhmacher)
    Sven Lehmann
    • Computerverkäufer
    Oscar Ortega Sánchez
    • Mr. Minit-Mitarbeiter
    Brigitte Janner
    • Sekretärin
    Katrin Klein
    • Sekretärin
    Hedi Kriegeskotte
    Hedi Kriegeskotte
    • Heimleiterin
    Karin Gregorek
    • Karls Stiefmutter
    Regine Zimmermann
    Regine Zimmermann
    • Pepes Freundin
    • Director
      • Hans-Christian Schmid
    • Writers
      • Hans-Christian Schmid
      • Michael Gutmann
      • Michael Dierking
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews29

    7.27.5K
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    Featured reviews

    10latzin.kram

    I felt 15 years younger

    I watched this movie because some articles made me curious ... the film is very thrilling and full of sophisticated humor. i felt 15 years younger, it was like leafing through a diary. I was born in 1964 so the time of Karl Koch's youth was the time of my youth, too. I have, however, never been a hacker. I think it was the first scene: Karl Koch takes his key and walks to his car, "accompanied" by "Child In Time". From that beginning I was in the film and I loved it. I also love "mathematic tricks" and "mathematic obsessions", just like Karl Koch. If the Americans would have made this film there would have been a love story and maybe also a happy-end. 23 is a great European film.
    laurenta

    Hacking History

    A well researched accurate but still fast-paced movie.

    This movie is of some significance to the history of computer hacking. Karl Koch may have been the loonie the movie presents, and I'm not sure he invented the concept of a Trojan, but the depiction of BBS/hacking/phreaking in the late eighties is nice and nostalgic.

    The acting really works, very believable. Also reminiscent of cold war madness and fears. The "illuminatus" aspect is a bit of a sideshow, maybe true to what really happened, but it's not so certain. Who knows what really went on between these crazy Germans?...
    floyd-27

    What is so scary about the number 23?

    Conspiracy theorist alert! All conspiracy theorists need to see this movie. I wont mislead you all, it's not a conspiracy movie. It's a German cinematic variation of "The Falcon and the Snowman", based on actual events that took place in West Germany during the mid 80's.

    It involves a young and rebellious radical, who happens to have a healthy appetite for conspiracy theories. Him and his good mate then turn to computer hacking as a means of fighting the war against nuclear power through out Europe.

    As they get more involved people start offering them money to hack organisations for information (Including the KGB).... This is when things start becoming a bit awry!

    Very thought provoking stuff, highly recommended!!!
    10samlix

    Important history and intense acting

    Acting on the highest levels. Best german movie have ever seen.
    8msz

    Very good movie - with very misleading ads

    An intriguing portrait of a young man drifting away from reality. And since that young man was a famous hacker with an unhealthy interest in conspiracies, the movie has got to be about conspiracies, right? Wrong. But that's exactly what the ads would like you to think. Very bad marketing for a very good movie. And beware: it can bring you to tears!! (Just thinking about that PDP in the rain makes me weep ... *sniff*)

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The other side of the story (the hunter's) is told in the movie The KGB, the Computer and Me (1990)
    • Goofs
      Karl Koch collapses right after the Chernobyl accident (April 1986). On what seems to be the next morning in the movie, "Glücksrad" is on the TV in the hospital. The show started on German TV no sooner than 7 November 1988.
    • Quotes

      Karl Koch: We hacked into everything we could. We took files from colleges, corporations and libraries. It was really easy most of the time. People were not creative with their passwords. Some used "password" others their pets' or wife's name. We worked at night for cheaper phone rates. Our weeks had 6 days of 28 hours. Which caused problems

    • Connections
      Featured in Everything is one. Except for the 0 (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Child in Time
      Written by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice

      B. Feldmann & Co Ltd t/as Hec Music

      Performed by Deep Purple

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    FAQ15

    • How long is 23?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 14, 1999 (Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • German
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Nada es lo que parece
    • Filming locations
      • Kino International, Karl-Marx-Allee, Berlin, Germany(interior)
    • Production company
      • Claussen & Wöbke Filmproduktion GmbH
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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