A plumber with a conscience strives to save the lives of the 800 people living in a large apartment building. Time is running short, and the plumber must convince the corrupt authorities that they must evacuate the residents before the building collapses.
This is an intriguing movie that sheds light on the issues facing the Russian people. The plumber, with a heart of gold, lives in a country where people are selfish. You can’t help but feel sympathy for the plumber as he endeavors to save people who may not even want to be saved. I wanted him to escape with his family and let the selfish people get what they deserved. Stupid idiots!
The acting is solid, and I enjoyed the interactions between the plumber and the authorities as he tries to persuade them that the apartment building is on the verge of collapse. It’s not easy to convince corrupt people who have stolen a significant amount of the money meant to improve the citizens’ lives. They are afraid of getting caught by even more powerful corrupt individuals.
The dialogue becomes truly interesting when the corrupt individuals in the city express their views, shedding light on what it’s like to live in Russia. While their actions are morally wrong, you come to understand their perspective, given the state of a ruined country where citizens seem to accept the leaders they have chosen by not taking action. It’s a harsh reality.
If you’re familiar with Russian movies dealing with corruption, ‘The Fool’ is one of the best in the genre, in my opinion. It possesses a certain charm and incorporates black comedy as the determined plumber refuses to turn a blind eye and live a mundane, depressing life with his family. He’s unwavering, much like his father, who is disliked for his stand against corruption. Such principles are not accepted by their fellow countrymen because, in Russia, corruption and alcoholism seem almost integral. If you’re not corrupt, you’re not considered a true Russian! And the ending is brilliant!