The Fool

The Fool is a 2014 Russian crime drama film written and directed by Yuri Bykov. It had its international premiere at the 2014 Locarno International Film Festival, where it won the Best Actor Award (Bystrov). This is the third film of writer and director Yury Bykov. The Fool is a 2014 Russian realistic melodrama, and displays the tragic attempt of how integrity and courage cannot fix the corruption of the governments and the indolence of society to combat it. The film received generally positive reviews. Plot Dima Nikitin, a Russian plumber, is a municipal repair-crew chief and is 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 engineering school while working as a plumber. 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 the knowledge that the inevitable destruction of the building will occur within the next 24 hours. Dima goes out of his way to alert the necessary authorities about the matter at 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 whom he offered a new 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 800 residents who are slowly killing themselves.