INTERVIEW: Director Yury Bykov explores society’s cracks in ‘The Fool’

Director Yury Bykov has crafted a dramatic, heart-wrenching story of a man’s quest to find decency and compassion in both public and private life. Set in an impoverished Russian town, where the local government officials line their pockets with money rather than help the locals, The Fool follows the character of Dima (Artyom Bystrov) as he demands help for the occupants of an apartment building, which appears to be on the verge of collapse. Most of his insisting requests are met with furrowed brows and laughs; Dima, as one finds out, is the title character of this narrative piece.

“I finished my previous feature film [The Major], and I asked myself what is the most interesting and important topic for people in my country,” Bykov said recently through a translator. “And while looking about I found that one of the most important topics is the problem of social connections of people.”

These social connections, or the lack thereof, are obvious after Dima seeks help with a large crack he finds in the apartment building. He’s convinced, thanks to his studies in the field, that the building will collapse within 24 hours. He heads to a social party where the local political leaders are enjoying a night of vodka and dancing. At first, his claims are met with skepticism, but soon enough, after another look at the building, his assertions are taken seriously. The town’s leaders, who have been missing deadlines on inspections and keeping public money, realize their corruption may soon become public knowledge.

“My character, my hero, is not representing some sort of people,” Bykov said. “He’s an exception, not the rule. Such people in Russia they are called fool because they do not keep in touch and don’t keep the rules of the country, of the system. If you really do care, if you’re not a careless person, they call you fool.”

He added: “And every person knows [that] to live honestly, you have to sacrifice your life. And as far as I know, most people who live in our country, they are not capable of sacrificing themselves each and every day. I do not hope that my film really can change something. I just wanted to tell the truth.”

The movie, which is playing New York’s Film Forum, was filmed in Tula, Russia, although the director said several locations could have worked. “But apart from Tula you can find such places in many corners of our country,” he said.

The conditions displayed in the film, including wayward youth, families with difficulties putting food on the table, domestic abuse and a general despair, are vivid and memorable, burning into the minds of the viewers. As the director said, the main character is the exception, a man wanting to break from the pack. Much like his father, Dima wants to keep his integrity intact and save the lives of his neighbors.

Bykov said he made the film for the people of Russia and to help others who have similar feelings as himself. However, The Fool is more universal in its appeal and commentary on society.

“In every country that has poor people living in it, people live just like in our film,” he said. “And the problem … is [not] particularly in Russia but in the essence of a human being, of a man.”

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• The Fool is currently playing at the Film Forum in New York City. Click here for more information. Previous version misidentified the director’s last film.