Moscow
A character in the new Harry Potter film bears an uncanny resemblance to President Vladimir Putin, and Russians smell an insult. Dobby the house elf, a computer-animated character in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, has a long nose, buggy eyes, and a pinched expression—just like the president. (Putin, though, is not yet bald.) Internet chat sites in Russia have been all atwitter, with some posters claiming insult on behalf of the president, others on behalf of Dobby. The Moscow newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported that a Russian law firm is planning to sue the film’s producers for appropriating Putin’s likeness without permission. But the paper failed to name the law firm, and other Russian media have speculated that the rumor was trumped up to publicize the film.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why does Trump keep interfering in the NYC mayoral race?Today's Big Question The president has seemingly taken an outsized interest in his hometown elections, but are his efforts to block Zohran Mamdani about political expediency or something deeper?
-
The pros and cons of banning cellphones in classroomsPros and cons The devices could be major distractions
-
Art review: Lorna Simpson: Source NotesFeature Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, through Nov. 2
