Alexander Hunt, known for directing the films How Vitka Chesnok Took Lekha Shtyr to the Nursing Home and Off-Season, has begun principal photography in Vladivostok for a new project exploring what many call the syndrome of sudden wealth, a topic highlighted by Mk.ru.
The film, titled 777, draws its plot from Kirill Ryabov’s short story of the same name. It centers on Igor Khlebnikov, a hamburger shop employee who unexpectedly withdraws an amount far beyond his usual paycheck, turning ten thousand rubles into a staggering three million. Hunt describes this choice as a window into a society saturated with striking advertising, bold architectural colors, and a visual language that cinema often avoids. He notes that the contemporary streets and storefronts provide a non cinematic reality that inspired the film’s distinctive mood and setting.
The cast for 777 includes Maxim Stoyanov portraying Igor Khlebnikov, with Irina Pegova, Fyodor Lavrov, Olga Ozollapinya, Kirill Polukhin, and Olga Bogomazova also slated to appear. The production team has positioned the project as a contemporary character study, one that examines how sudden wealth can alter a person’s sense of self and direction over time.
Experts trace the phrase sudden wealth syndrome to American psychologist Stephen Holbart. The storyline suggests that Igor Khlebnikov experiences a surge of power and invulnerability at first, followed by an enduring personal crisis that challenges his identity and values as he navigates unexpected fortune.
Earlier reports had noted the global reach of Russian auteur cinema, including screenings in Latin America and Africa for works such as Off-Season, underscoring the international appeal of Hunt’s storytelling and the broader conversation about wealth, fame, and personal transformation that 777 aims to contribute to.