There are many characters in the Harry Potter saga that have pissed us off: of course Voldemort, the crazy Bellatrix Lestrange, and of course the cruel Dolores Umbridge, who is probably the most hated character in J.K. Rowling’s world.
And yet, none of these characters infuriated Vladimir Putin more than this cute little creature who just wanted to live liberated, free and all. Because yes, the little (or almost) harmless elf caused controversy in Russia and almost even caused a diplomatic incident due to his “resemblance” to the Russian head of state.
It was in 2002 that Dobby, the house elf, was featured in the hit movie saga, the second part of the Harry Potter adventures, Chris Columb’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
And if the small creature on the set of the film is represented by an orange tennis ball attached to the handle, which allows a young Daniel Radcliffe to look in the right direction, the rest belongs to post-production, Dobby was completely computer-generated. Following the descriptions in the book – and based on the movement of Max’s ears, the dog is always present in their office – the team finally brings the character to life on screen, and so we arrive at the result that we saw. in movies.
But here’s where things get complicated: a year after the film’s release, Russian lawyers made a surprise announcement that they plan to file a lawsuit against Warner Bros. For a strange reason: Dobby looks a lot like Vladimir Putin!
Their theory: a bald creature with drooping ears, a pointed nose and bright eyes, they said, was imagined from the face and expression of their president, who himself complained of the resemblance!
Obviously, we find the same theory on the Internet, spreading rumors and spreading it – until it becomes a meme, which gave birth to a mocking statue erected in Ukraine in 2015. And just to add fuel to the fire, the BBC’s children’s site CBBC even went so far as to publish a poll on the subject: 54% of the 5,500 votes agreed that Putin and Dobby looked so alike you’d believe they were born apart!
The worst was averted
According to eonline.com, the information about the trial at that time first appeared in a Russian newspaper. However, as a representative of the Russian Lawyers Corporation explained to Radio Free Europe, such accusations – which have happened before – are almost impossible to prove, as it requires the call of many experts. Thus, the chances of such a claim being successful were minimal.
The controversy has since ended and no trial has taken place. That said, there are some similarities between the character and the man side by side. Was this really the intention of the film’s post-production team or a pure coincidence? We will probably never know, and for the good of mankind it is certainly better that way!
And finally, for the record, would another legend maker be compared to another famous head of state: Gollum vs. George W. Bush? Yes, it was rumored – unconfirmed, as The Guardian recalls – that the former US president was also unhappy about his potential resemblance to the creature that appeared in The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers… that same year. Dobby!
Hear Konbini’s detailed explanations and images on the Dobby/Putin theme in the video below:
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
