The Fool (2014 film): Difference between revisions
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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Dima, a |
Dima, a Russian plumber, is a municipal repair-crew chief and studying building engineering in an unnamed Russian town. He is a dauntless young man surrounded by the adverse effects of his pessimistic family and harshly uncaring community. He lives with his hasty mother, apathetic father, and wife and son. He faces financial struggles while studying and attempting to complete [[school]]. When Dima discovers a leaky pipe in a building, he stresses the importance of urgent action. When Dima goes outside to inspect the manner, he notices the entire building is tilting. |
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His compassionate and good-hearted character cannot rest with knowing the inevitable destruction of the building is in the next 24 hours. Dima goes out of his way to alert the necessary authority about this matter in hand. When he tries to warn the [[mayor]] Nina Galaganova, he passes the inspector of public housing Fedotov. While attempting to inform the officials, it is apparent that they are too intoxicated to understand the severity. They joke around with the validity of Dima's claim, saying he’s probably sleeping with some girl who offered him an apartment. They only become concerned once they realize what others will think of them and how they will lose everything after the destruction. They are hit with the guilt of taking out money for themselves and letting the accidents pile on top of each other until they are faced with the catastrophe of abruptly trying to relocate 600 residents who are slowly killing themselves. |
His compassionate and good-hearted character cannot rest with knowing the inevitable destruction of the building is in the next 24 hours. Dima goes out of his way to alert the necessary authority about this matter in hand. When he tries to warn the [[mayor]] Nina Galaganova, he passes the inspector of public housing Fedotov. While attempting to inform the officials, it is apparent that they are too intoxicated to understand the severity. They joke around with the validity of Dima's claim, saying he’s probably sleeping with some girl who offered him an apartment. They only become concerned once they realize what others will think of them and how they will lose everything after the destruction. They are hit with the guilt of taking out money for themselves and letting the accidents pile on top of each other until they are faced with the catastrophe of abruptly trying to relocate 600 residents who are slowly killing themselves. |
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Galaganova and Bogachyov decide to pin the expected building collapse on Fedotov and Matugin. Together with Nikitin, Fedotov and Matugin are instructed by Sayapin, the police chief, that arrangements are being made for evacuation. The trio is put into a police van and taken allegedly to meet Galaganova, but instead, they are driven to a remote location on the city outskirts. It becomes clear to them that Galaganova is covering her tracks by eliminating them, to pin the eventual collapse of the building on them. Fedotov pleads with the policemen to release Nikitin and they reluctantly agree, instructing him to leave the city with his family immediately. Matugin and Fedotov are executed. |
Galaganova and Bogachyov decide to pin the expected building collapse on Fedotov and Matugin. Together with Nikitin, Fedotov and Matugin are instructed by Sayapin, the police chief, that arrangements are being made for evacuation. The trio is put into a police van and taken allegedly to meet Galaganova, but instead, they are driven to a remote location on the city outskirts. It becomes clear to them that Galaganova is covering her tracks by eliminating them, to pin the eventual collapse of the building on them. Fedotov pleads with the policemen to release Nikitin and they reluctantly agree, instructing him to leave the city with his family immediately. Matugin and Fedotov are executed. |
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Despite Dima's efforts, no one is evacuating the building. Dima takes matters into his own hands going banging from door to door urging residents to leave before the building collapses. “We live like animals and we die like animals because we are nobodies to each other” Dima stresses to his wife Masha when she refuses to care about the wellbeing of others. Despite his bravery, he gets attacked for disrupting the entire building, as no one believes him or supports his efforts. |
Despite Dima's efforts, no one is evacuating the building. Dima takes matters into his own hands going banging from door to door urging residents to leave before the building collapses. '''“We live like animals and we die like animals because we are nobodies to each other”'''''Italic text''. Dima stresses to his wife Masha when she refuses to care about the wellbeing of others. Despite his bravery, he gets attacked for disrupting the entire building, as no one believes him or supports his efforts. |
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The final scene is Dima laying in a fetal position after getting punched by arrogant and annoyed residents. The fate of the residents is left in the arms of the viewer's imagination. |
The final scene is Dima laying in a fetal position after getting punched by arrogant and annoyed residents. The fate of the residents is left in the arms of the viewer's imagination. |
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Revision as of 22:44, 18 May 2021
| The Fool | |
|---|---|
.png) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Yuri Bykov |
| Written by | Yuri Bykov |
| Produced by | Alexey Uchitel Kira Saksaganskaya |
| Starring | Artyom Bystrov Boris Nevzorov Natalia Surkova Kirill Polukhin Yuri Tsurilo Darya Moroz Irina Nizina Alexander Korshunov Maxim Pinsker Sergei Artsibashev Olga Samoshina Yelena Panova Ilya Isaev Dmitry Kulitchkov Pyotr Barancheev |
| Cinematography | Kirill Klepalov |
| Edited by | Yuri Bykov |
| Music by | Yuri Bykov |
| Distributed by | Rock Studios Bazelevs Premium Film |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 116 minutes[3][4] |
| Country | Russia |
| Language | Russian |
| Budget | $1.3 million |
The Fool (Template:Lang-ru) is a 2014 Russian drama film written and directed by Yuri Bykov. It had its international premiere at the 2014 Locarno International Film Festival, where it won the prize for the best actor.
This is the third film of writer and director Yury Bykov.
Brief Introduction
The Fool is a 2014 Russian realistic melodrama. Just falling short of two hours, the film sets a gloomy tone and displays the tragic attempt of how integrity and courage cannot fix the corruption of society. Directed by Yuriy Bykov, the film has received several good reviews, attaining 93% on Rotten Tomatoes with a 90% audience score.
Plot
Dima, a Russian plumber, is a municipal repair-crew chief and studying building engineering in an unnamed Russian town. He is a dauntless young man surrounded by the adverse effects of his pessimistic family and harshly uncaring community. He lives with his hasty mother, apathetic father, and wife and son. He faces financial struggles while studying and attempting to complete school. When Dima discovers a leaky pipe in a building, he stresses the importance of urgent action. When Dima goes outside to inspect the manner, he notices the entire building is tilting.
His compassionate and good-hearted character cannot rest with knowing the inevitable destruction of the building is in the next 24 hours. Dima goes out of his way to alert the necessary authority about this matter in hand. When he tries to warn the mayor Nina Galaganova, he passes the inspector of public housing Fedotov. While attempting to inform the officials, it is apparent that they are too intoxicated to understand the severity. They joke around with the validity of Dima's claim, saying he’s probably sleeping with some girl who offered him an apartment. They only become concerned once they realize what others will think of them and how they will lose everything after the destruction. They are hit with the guilt of taking out money for themselves and letting the accidents pile on top of each other until they are faced with the catastrophe of abruptly trying to relocate 600 residents who are slowly killing themselves.
Galaganova sends Fedotov and Matugin to assess the damage with Nikitin. The officials soon accept that the building will indeed fall, and return to report this to the mayor. They all realize that an evacuation of this scale would cause a financial review and reveal years of embezzlement.
Galaganova and Bogachyov decide to pin the expected building collapse on Fedotov and Matugin. Together with Nikitin, Fedotov and Matugin are instructed by Sayapin, the police chief, that arrangements are being made for evacuation. The trio is put into a police van and taken allegedly to meet Galaganova, but instead, they are driven to a remote location on the city outskirts. It becomes clear to them that Galaganova is covering her tracks by eliminating them, to pin the eventual collapse of the building on them. Fedotov pleads with the policemen to release Nikitin and they reluctantly agree, instructing him to leave the city with his family immediately. Matugin and Fedotov are executed.
Despite Dima's efforts, no one is evacuating the building. Dima takes matters into his own hands going banging from door to door urging residents to leave before the building collapses. “We live like animals and we die like animals because we are nobodies to each other”Italic text. Dima stresses to his wife Masha when she refuses to care about the wellbeing of others. Despite his bravery, he gets attacked for disrupting the entire building, as no one believes him or supports his efforts.
The final scene is Dima laying in a fetal position after getting punched by arrogant and annoyed residents. The fate of the residents is left in the arms of the viewer's imagination.
Cast
- Artyom Bystrov as Dima Nikitin, an idealistic plumber
- Natalya Surkova as Nina Galaganova, town mayor
- Boris Nevzorov as Fedotov, deceitful boss of Dima
- Yuriy Tsurilo as Bogachyov
- Kirill Polukhin as Matyugin
- Maksim Pinsker as Sayapin
Cinematography
The film’s grave use of dark settings, unhappy characters, and dreary lighting helps carry the narrative of painful reality. The story could’ve easily fit into an account of how a charismatic man saves a collapsing building but instead the film focuses on shining light on tragedy of penurious living situations.
Reception
The Fool has received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 93%, based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 7.7/10 with an audience score of 90%. [5] On Metacritic the film has a score of 83 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[6]
In 2018 users of the Russian movie database KinoPoisk voted it to be the best Russian movie made in the past 15 years.[7]
Awards and nominations
- Gorin Prize for the Best Script, Open Russian Film Festival Kinotavr in Sochi, 2014[8]
- Best Actor Leopard, awarded to Artyom Bystrov, Locarno International Film Festival, 2014[9][10]
- Ecumenical Prize, Locarno International Film Festival, 2014[9]
- Junior Jury Award, First Prize, Locarno International Film Festival, 2014[9]
- Atlas d’Argent de la mise en scène (silver prize), Arras Film Festival, 2014[11][12]
- Audience Choice Award, Arras Film Festival, 2014[11]
- Young Jury Prize, Arras Film Festival, 2014[11]
- Flèche de Cristal, Festival de cinéma européen des Arcs, 2014[13]
- Best Cinematography Prize, awarded to Kirill Klepalov, Festival de cinéma européen des Arcs, 2014[13]
- Youth Jury Award, Festival de cinéma européen des Arcs, 2014[13]
- Best Screenplay, Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards, Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, 2015[14]
Themes and Meanings
The movie encompasses many negative aspects of life in Russia. There are several heartbreaking scenes, from families violently fighting over money to a drunk wife on the floor being left by her husband to see another woman. There are rarely any softhearted interactions between characters. Dimas hope and determination against the pretentious and complacent bureaucrats do not stand against their cunning egos. Dima is regarded as “the fool” with his hopes of fighting against the corruption of Russian society. His good heart cannot fight against the greed of others and the indifference of bettering the community. Dima taking his own path and straying from the typical passive citizen shows the lonesome side of heroism. In addition, the film does not reward him for his high character and instead emphasizes the true impact of an amoral society. The subtle effort to portray altruism into foolishness in the film goes alongside its endeavor to highlight Russia’s poor living situation, instilling a range of emotions, from hope to empathy, within the viewer.
References
- ^ "2014 Schedule" (PDF). Open Russian Film Festival Kinotavr. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ "Durak". Festival del film Locarno. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ "The Fool (programme note)". Vancouver International Film Festival. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ "The Fool". m-appeal. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ "Durak (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ "The Fool Reviews". Metacritic. Metacritic. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ "Читатели КиноПоиска выбрали лучший российский фильм за последние 15 лет — Новости на КиноПоиске". КиноПоиск (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-10-30.
- ^ "Winners of the 25th Open Russian Film Festival Kinotavr". Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ a b c "Official Awards" (PDF). Festival del Film Locarno. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ Ariston Anderson (2014-08-16). "Filipino Director Lav Diaz Takes Home Top Prize in Locarno". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ a b c "Arras 2014 : Fair Play et The fool se partagent les prix". Le Blog d'Écran Noir. 2014-11-17. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ Erwan Desbois (2014-11-16). "ARRAS 2014 : le palmarès". Accréds. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ a b c Elsa Keslassy (2014-12-19). "Yury Bykov's 'The Fool' Wins Top Prize at Les Arcs". Variety. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ Donald Clarke (2015-03-29). "The winners at JDIFF from the Dublin Film Critics Circle". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
External links
- Official website (Olive Films)
- The Fool at IMDb
- Film Review: 'The Fool'