Operation ‘Happy New Year’! 1996

New Year's Eve at the trauma ward

On New Year's Eve, a diverse group of patients ends up in the hospital's trauma ward under various circumstances. The arrivals include Sergey Olegovich Savenko, General Ivolgin, a quarrelsome married couple, a businessman with genital injuries and a dislocated jaw, a detainee who swallowed a police medal, the actor Kuzmichov, and the Kroupier brothers, along with the ward's longtime residents Poluyan and the Incurable Patient. The ward becomes a chaotic cross-section of people awaiting an uncertain night.

Sergey Savenko arrives with broken wrists

Sergey Olegovich Savenko, a writer of erotic novels, arrives at the hospital with both wrists broken after a failed bondage experiment. His presence introduces a curious, sensual aspect to the ward's dynamics. The admission sets the tone for the night’s unusual visitors.

General Ivolgin injures himself inspecting paratroopers

General Ivolgin injures himself while inspecting the paratroopers, adding another injury to the ward’s growing pile. His pride and sense of duty push him to take charge in the absence of the normal leadership. The incident emphasizes the chaotic, slapstick mood of the hospital gathering.

Quarreling married couple hospitalized after car accident

A quarrelling married couple is hospitalized following a car accident, embodying the personal tensions that spill into the hospital's surreal New Year's Eve. Their presence contributes to the ward's mosaic of relationships and unresolved conflicts. The accident also foreshadows the unpredictable night ahead.

Businessman with genital injuries arrives after fleeing assassins

A businessman with genital injuries and a dislocated jaw arrives after fleeing assassins, adding danger and mystery to the ward’s population. His abrupt appearance anchors a subplot of danger intruding on the patients' festivities. His presence draws attention from the other residents and the visitors who will converge that night.

Detainee with a swallowed police medal

Sergeant Semyonov brings in a detainee who swallowed a police medal, a ridiculous detail that underscores the ward’s absurd humor. The detainee’s backstory becomes part of the ongoing, improvised celebration. His case foreshadows the mix of satire and danger that characterizes the night.

Kroupiers and other admitted patients

An actor and two brothers, the Kroupiers, are admitted with fractures, joining the other patients in the ward’s carnival of injuries. The group adds to the ensemble, making the hospital feel like a microcosm of the broader society. Their fractures become part of the ward’s oddity and humor.

Permanent residents introduced: Poluyan and the Incurable Patient

Two permanent residents of the ward are introduced: Poluyan, a drug addict with a twisted neck who scavenges for painkillers, and the nameless 'Incurable Patient' in a wheelchair with an unknown illness. They anchor the film’s running jokes and the mystery of the ward. Their presence grounds the story amid the patients' eccentricities.

Eccentric visitors arrive

Throughout the night, more eccentric visitors arrive, including Zoya, a secretary and lover of Savenko; actor Kuzmichov dressed as Father Frost; a German-speaking Santa Claus; a drunken urology professor; and the enigmatic Karl Ivanovich. Their entrances heighten the surreal atmosphere in the hospital. The visitors blur lines between fantasy and the patients' reality.

Plan for a festive New Year is born

Displeased with the idea of celebrating New Year in the hospital, the on-duty doctor Evgeny Kachalov initially resists, but General Ivolgin takes charge and begins organizing festivities. Female patients from a nearby ward are invited, a Christmas tree is dug up and decorated, and a lavish spread of food and drinks is arranged thanks to the businessman. Poluyan is tasked with inviting prestigious guests.

Assassins breach the ward and are thwarted

The planned celebration is interrupted when the assassins targeting the businessman break into the ward, but the door to his room’s safe accidentally falls on them, thwarting the attack. The failed hitmen are admitted to the ward and connected to an IV of vodka instead of medication. The chaos heightens the farcical mood that underpins the night.

The 'Incurable Patient' undergoes a spine surgery

Influenced by a satirical article found in a science magazine, the group decides to perform a spine surgery on the 'Incurable Patient' despite being non-medics and heavily intoxicated. The operation is conducted in an improvised fashion and, to everyone's astonishment, is successful. Zoya stitches 'Happy New Year!' into the patient’s back as the procedure ends.

Morning revelation: walking again

The following morning, the 'Incurable Patient' miraculously regains his ability to walk, turning the night’s chaos into a strange, triumphant moment. The ward buzzes with surprised relief as the news spreads. The event underscores the film’s satirical take on medical miracle cures.