With support from THE RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF CULTURE
You're blocking the TV! Move!
Who's gonna vacuum the floor then? You?
How can I watch TV with your ass in the way?
Let me finish this first!
Stupid cow! I'm missing my show!
Go fix the light!
You can stick your lights up your ass!
Vera, where's the money?
What money?
- You know what money - I haven't got any
I spent the last of it on bread yesterday. Nothing left till payday
I hid some under the shelf in the cupboard
Oh yes?
There's no food at home, and you have a stash?
Where's the money? Can't you see I'm shaking?
Kolya, I didn't take it
I'm gonna beat your face in
I swear I didn't take it. Please don't hit me
How on earth did I end up with a lazy parasite like you?
Laying on the couch all day like a log!
I can't take it anymore!
- Where's the money? You took it - I didn't. Go away
- Get away from me, you freak! - Where's my money? I'll strangle you
- Where's my money, you whore? - Are you nuts?
- Where is it? - Get your hands off me!
Where's my money? Where is it, you whore?
Let go of her! Get away from her, you bastard!
- Don't you dare touch her! - Where's my money, you scum?
- Don't touch her! - Bitch!
ARTYOM BYSTROV
in a film by YURI BYKOV
THE FOOL
...He's come back drunk
"Dilapidated walls, collapsed ceilings, and pervasive mould:
all realities of life for residents living right opposite the local government building
but it seems that the window in the governor's office faces the other way
These wooden shacks were built back in 1950 as temporary dwellings
and have not been repaired since
Meanwhile, across the road, a construction project is well under way
not for a residential building, but a two-story parking lot for local government officials..."
Do you really think you'll pass?
What do you think?
Everyone says you've got to bribe someone
So don't listen
You're not a kid, Dima
It's worth a try at least
Or should I drop everything and go borrow some money?
- Why do you need this anyway? - Well, I could take over Fedotov's position
You'd need to be buddies with everyone, and to them you're just some student
They'll say you're trying to be smart
They certainly will. Definitely
Masha, go set the table
One moment...
Dima, watch Anton please
Dad, they're breaking the bench again!
- Where are you going? - Mom...
- They'll rip your heads off! - Stop it already
Get out of the way!
Dima, enough chasing after them. What's the point?
I'm tired of repairing that bench
We'll catch them this time for sure
Come on, let's go
Scram!
- What the hell are you doing, you bastards? - Suck it!
These punks need to get their legs ripped off. You didn't catch them?
I'll find out who hangs out around here and go talk to their parents
What's the point? They'll just tell you to go to hell
Let's go eat. I'll fix it later
Not too fatty? Have some bread with it
You'll get heartburn otherwise
- Want some more? - Let me finish what I have first
Is it cold?
It's fine, relax
Come on, sweetheart, yum-yum. You like yum-yum?
"Yum-yum"... You give him candy, then expect him to eat real food?
Please don't start. Come on, yum-yum
When he gets hungry at night, you'll be the one heating things up
Come on, eat some
Well, did you catch them?
Who can keep up with them? They're like galloping horses
Give up on that bench already. You've repaired it a hundred times
- The neighbors are laughing at you - Instead of repairing it themselves
Freezing their asses sitting on the cold ground isn't funny
Those gorillas will realize their strength any day now
and next time, they'll bash your heads in
- We'll call the cops then - You think the cops care?
They didn't even do anything to stop the fight
Dima...
You know what I was thinking?
Ivlev is selling his garage, his cottage and his car for next to nothing
He's a useless drunk nowadays
- You should take out a loan - My driver's license might come in handy
Mom, I told you I need to pay for the semester
You tell him
What am I supposed to tell him? He's his own master
Two dupes in a pod, I swear
You will never get anywhere in life like that. Never
This one has spent his entire life righteously thumping his chest
and now my son plans on doing the same thing
Mom, I only have 2 years left. Then we'll buy the garage
You all can live as you like
- What's wrong? - Nothing!
Other people have everything, I'm ashamed to look them in the face
Even our health is poor
Dad has a bad back and high blood pressure. And my legs can barely get me to the kitchen
Ivan, did we really think that fortune would smile on us?
I spent twenty years slaving away as a doctor in the hospital
and now I'm mopping floors in my old office. But I have no choice
Try living on a pension! And your dad has one foot in the grave
He's been breathing in ashes on that crane for almost 30 years
His lungs are clogged, he's coughing. We'll see what will come first - disability, or...
- I'll take you both to get treatment - What do I want with your treatments?
Did we get all these ailments for nothing?
We did it so that you could become a man and live life as it should be lived
And for Anton
- And I'm not a man? - You're a fool!
Leave them alone already. He's sitting here, studying
What do you want from them?
I'm his mother. You're the one who never needs anything
The apple didn't fall far from the tree
- Here we go - Am I wrong?
You just say, "We don't need what doesn't belong to us"
And nothing ever belongs to us!
So here you are, all righteous, but living in dirt your whole life
Enough already. I've had it with you
Look at you sitting here gathering dust. Everyone here is sick and tired of you
That's right! You especially!
- People stealing left and right, but not me! - Exactly! You never brought anything home!
The pipes are leaking, and you don't give a shit. Even the Karasevs replaced theirs!
- He stole them from the warehouse! - So drown here with your righteousness!
People take things for themselves! Why don't you?
So that no one can point their finger at you? In the end, everyone does!
They avoid you like a leper! Nobody wants anything to do with you
- You old fool - Find a young one
- Thank you - You're welcome
- Dad... - Let him go!
- What's gotten into you? - Oh, so I'm the one to blame?
- First you raise them, and then... - I've had it with you
What's wrong with kids nowadays?
Don't listen to her, Dad
I came to work once and saw a bunch of guys acting shifty
"Come over here." I said, "What for?"
"We need to steal some pipes from the warehouse"
So I said, "They don't belong to us"
And now they avoid me like the plague. Don't even say hello anymore
Your mother is right
I've lived sixty years and have neither friends, nor enemies
Everyone considers me a fool
At work, it's because I work and don't steal
Here it's because I replace stolen light bulbs
and because I repair the bench every evening
I am a fool
You're not a fool
Oh, come on...
Dima! Somebody from dispatch called for you
Mom, tell them I'm off duty today
They say it's urgent. Filimonov went on a bender
- I should go - Sure
- Tell us what happened - What's there to tell? The pipes are 20 years old
Good thing I wasn't taking a shower, or I would've been boiled alive
I don't care about the pipes. Why the hell did you beat your family?...
Andrey, did you shut it off downstairs?
What, and leave the whole building without water?
I'm just worried... Look at how it burst
...Come on, chief, it's family matters. We'll sort it out ourselves
Yeah right, and next time we'll come here to collect dead bodies?
Let's just wait for the chief to get here, and let him decide
- You drank yourself to insanity - Aha, right
Don't talk back
Everything's fine, it's family matters
- When did you drink last? - Why?
- Because the shot won't work - I hope it won't
Let the bastard suffer
- Our daughter's covered in blood - Shut up, bitch
Quiet, you
I haven't touched the stuff in three days
The hangover wasn't easing up. I went for my stash - it was gone
Almost had a heart attack. Put yourself in my shoes
My liver's not big enough to fill your shoes
Well, the burn isn't serious. It's just a scald
I'll give you some ointment, put it on at night
But if you drink, the shot won't work. Just so you know
Do you want us to take him in?
He has to be at work tomorrow. Or he won't get his bonus again
Sign the waiver then
Do we really need all this hassle? Why should we be dealing with this?
- What, you can't handle a burst pipe? - Should we turn the water off in the basement?
- What the hell for? - Take a look yourself
What, you felt sorry for me?
I felt sorry for our girl. Her boots are falling apart. She needs new ones
Her feet are always wet and cold, she'll get sick
- Well, are you gonna fix it or not? - Shut up, or you're gonna fix it yourself
- Is this a bearing wall? - You should know better
Fuck!
What's with him?
Let's go
Get ready for bed
Mom, let's stay over at Lena's place. I'm scared of him
Do what you're told
There are too many people in their room as it is
Go to bed, it's 10pm already
Well, are we gonna sleep or not?
I'm not going to bed with you. Go sleep on the sofa
- Oh come on - Hands off me
Come here
What happened?
Have there been any other complaints from the tenants?
Not today, but this place is a pain in the ass
It's an old building. Been standing for 40 years
- Why are you so agitated? - Shit... This isn't my district
Has there been a thorough overhaul of this building?
What overhaul? Like you don't know Fedotov
They painted the walls, and he pocketed the rest
What about inspections? Was everything in order?
Are you joking?
The inspectors were given cash to shut up - problem solved
Time's up for this building. We're tired of always having to come out here
The roof leaks, the pipes are rusty
We patch a hole, and six new ones appear the next day
What about Filimonov? Has he talked to Fedotov about this?
Why would he care? His wife left him, so he's been drunk for 3 days straight
You'll probably be transferred to our crew. The most problematic neighborhood
What's wrong, anyway?
Hell knows
I think the foundation is shifting
Are you serious?
There's a crack on the outside from the first to the ninth floor
I looked around, it's a through-wall crack
And the entire building's tilting
Fucking hell...
- What do we do now? - Quiet, calm down
Just shut off the water for now and go home
I'll go talk to Fedotov tomorrow. That's all. Bye
Dima, what are you doing?
- Go to sleep - I need to check something
You and your damn school. You've got exams tomorrow?
Close your eyes, Anton
Dima, are you nuts? What are you doing?
- Where are you going? - I don't know why he got up
I'm going to the 32nd dormitory
- Where I was today. Got it? - No. What are you talking about?
- The dormitory, remember? - I guess. So what?
Things are pretty bad there. The building's barely standing
There's a crack, the building's tilting. It's going to collapse
- Are you joking? - I'm serious
I just looked at the stability calculations for a 9-story panel building
- It's won't stand another 24 hours - Bite your tongue
So, go see Fedotov tomorrow
The foundation is crumbling. We need to evacuate people now!
And who's going to let you do that without an inspection, you lunatic?
Some people have been there for 30 years. You want them out in the middle of the night?
It has to be done right now!
But how? Do you have Fedotov's number? Call him
He won't do anything. He pocketed the overhaul money
Do you know anyone from the administration?
- Your mother does - Whom?
Razumikhina, the chief accountant at the mayor's office, is your friend, right?
We haven't seen each other in ages
I'm not going to bother her at this hour with this nonsense
It's not nonsense, Mom! People can die at any minute! Call her!
- Don't yell - I said, call her!
Here's her number, call her yourself, you raving lunatic!
- Is it that serious? - It's very serious
Don't you know that you won't get anywhere?
If they didn't care about that building for 30 years, why would they start now?
- Yes, I know everything - You will raise a panic, and then what?
People will have to be put up somewhere for the night
They can't be on the street with their children and suitcases in the cold
They will have to be resettled, and you know what our town hall's like
A bunch of thieving rats
Complaints will come in, people will be fired and courts will get involved. Stay out of it
- What are they going to do, kill me? - Idiot
Calm down. Go put Anton to bed
Hello, Galya? It's Dmitry Nikitin. I apologize for calling so late
Galya, I really need your help to contact someone
The mayor
Yes, with Galaganova
No, no, not during office hours, no...
Yes, it's urgent, and no, I'm not joking
Really?
Where?
Got it
I'll be right there. Yes
What did she say?
The entire administration are celebrating Galaganova's birthday in a restaurant
There's my meeting - couldn't be better
- They're all drunk right now... - Maybe they're better drunk
They'll be more kind
We'll see
Are you sure?
Wait for me
Oh good Lord, what a mess...
Oh God...
- Go put the kettle on - Oh God... Alright
- Hey, careful, bro - You could step aside
- I could do anything - I'm happy for you
- Hey, let's get introduced - Later
Easy... Is it that bad?
- The vodka's bad - Get some food in your stomach
- Excuse me, where can I find Nina Galaganova? - She's in the dining hall
- Thank you - Only she's married
- Good to know - But I'm not
- Where are you going? - Where I need to go
- To see her again? - Go drink some more
I'll divorce you, you bastard!
It's about time. Been waiting for 3 years
Let's dance!
Come on, girls!
Dear friends! May I have your attention please?
I think we shouldn't just raise our glasses to the health of our dear Nina
but also say the most important things about her!
We've all wished her good health, a long life, happy friends and family
But most importantly, we all owe her a debt of gratitude for our thriving town
that grows and gets more beautiful every year
The life that every resident enjoys is entirely thanks to her
I ask the people closest to Nina to say a few words of gratitude on this fine evening
I came here about 20 years ago
I had to get the zoning documents for the factory
So I walk into the records office and see
a skinny girl in a dress that blends into the filing cabinets
I ask her to bring me this, give me that, but she acts like she doesn't see me
I bark out an order - and she tells me to go to hell
So then I look at her and say:
"You're going to be a big boss one day"
That girl's name was Nina
Nina was from a small village
Her mother had six children, a cow and her husband's grave in the backyard
This place was a real pigsty twenty years ago
Unless you held your nose and closed your eyes walking down the street, you'd be driven to drink
This was one big shithole
But now, twenty years have passed
I'm thinking of buying a house somewhere on the outskirts
and moving there with my family when I get old
And all thanks to you, Nina. You're the boss
And others even call you by a different name
Don't be shy, come on, all together now!
Mama! Mama!
Nina, this is Dmitry Nikitin, a repair crew chief for the public utility works
- Hello - Hello
- I'm here on a work-related issue - Now? I'm celebrating. Have a drink
- Really, I can't. It's an urgent matter - Have a drink, busy man
- Do you know each other? - No. He doesn't like to do introductions
I'm Dmitry Nikitin
- Nina, an incident has occurred - What incident?
An emergency situation at one of the 'A' district dormitories
Can't Fedotov or his assistants handle this?
I'm afraid he won't care, because he never has before
This case could end with many deaths in the next few hours
Please get all the department heads together, firemen, police, ambulances
We need a plan of action. I will give a detailed account of the situation
Mrs. Galaganova, I understand that this is a party and all
But something terrible is about to happen
I'm not joking
Emelyanov!
- Get all the chiefs together in the other hall - Who exactly do you need, Nina?
They're all wasted. Sayapin left already, blind drunk
- And Tulsky's wife took him home... - Call them and tell them to come back
I don't care if they puke or take pills; they have to be here
Watch out, Dmitry Nikitin, repair crew chief
Thanks
What are you stirring shit up for?
Sit down, Fedor
Well, go ahead and inform us
A crew was called to the 32nd dormitory in district A, to repair a burst hot-water pipe
- They saw that things were bad and called me - Why not Filimonov? He's the chief engineer
He went on a bender, Fedor. It's been three days
The pipes burst due to the displacement of bearing walls
The dormitory was built even before the town was founded
- So that was about 40 years ago... - 38
Whatever
A major overhaul was never done...
What do you mean? There was one in 1984, and another three years ago
I'm not prepared to argue about the quality of these repairs right now
The concern here is that the building could collapse at any minute
Who gave you this idea? Like this very minute?
Yes. Practically as we speak
There are two huge cracks on the bearing walls, from the first to the ninth floor
And the entire building's tilting. The foundation is crumbling and shifting
The vibrations of the units are visible to the naked eye
- How many people live there? - Who are you listening to, Tolya?
This requires a regional inspection, about 10 specialists. There are many aspects
He just probably fucking some girl in that dorm and promised her a new apartment
- It's 2 am, Fedor... - Shut up!
That sounds about right. Balls rolled up - now pay up
Go and look for yourselves. Even a child can see...
Maybe a child can, but it's not clear to us
- Are you the chief housing engineer? - No
- Exactly - Neither are you!
Foundation, tilt - do you know much about that?
- Yes, I'm studying construction, second year - Need the diploma to get promoted, right?
I told you to be quiet!
You can really see everything with the naked eye
The stability factor of a nine-story panel building doesn't allow for a tilt of even 5 degrees
and that building is leaning by around 10 degrees
The tilt is beyond the point of maximum deviation from the gravity-bearing perpendicular
This means that the building is falling, and it will fall no matter what
Taking into account the angle of deviation, the building won't stand more than a day
Do you realize that in that case
we need to declare an emergency and evacuate the people immediately?
Yes
- How many are in there? A thousand? - There are 820 people
820 people
They will need to be resettled
And the town has a housing shortage as it is
Go ahead, call a regional inspection, let them check everything and make a decision
- Because I'm not taking on these costs - You want to end up in jail then?
Sayapin can take care of that as our friend
800 people. What if they all get buried under there?
You pocketed the money for repairs, I never checked. We're both going down
- I pocketed the money? - You did!
Oh come on, Fedor!
Did your daughter's house build itself?
- Or did you help her with your salary? - Look who's talking!
What about your house? Or his house?
Why don't we tell this kid here who pocketed what
Or how we survive around here, washing each other's hands
What hands? Watch what you say!
- I've got my own patch - What patch?
The whole town together with its 30,000 residents is the patch
One of us gets caught, he'll take everyone down with him
Journalists will come, and up in smoke we go
I'm all clean. I've had inspections already
Crime detection rate was within norm. No drug addicts, no prostitutes at all
But you and Matyugin will be going up in smoke in his fire truck
Any more threats?
What did you do with the prostitutes? Are they at your harem?
Quiet, all of you!
A fish rots from the head down. If I'm tainted, then so are all of you
They'll go through everything with a fine-tooth comb
And for 800 people, they'll find shit even in your "patch"
What, do you have the cleanest department?
Right, go to the place with him
- I'm... - Have a look once you're there
If everything is as he says, then we'll think about what to do
Let's go, shit-stirrer
Dima, stay for a moment
If he tries to threaten you, don't listen. He's cunning and sly
If not him, then we'll have to deal with it. Not to mention those poor people
I'll go too. Fedotov's angry right now, and the kid's naive
OK, good luck
- Show us what you've got - It's this way
- Here it is - What is it?
The crack goes through the whole building
So what? I saw this crack two years ago
Fine
Look here
The wall is crumbling, the foundation is shifting
Shifting where?
In fall the soil gives a little from the rain. Don't get smart, builder
OK, come with me
Come on, let's go
Man, it stinks in here
Fix the sewage pipes, then it won't stink
You scum! Stop torturing us!
Your child is scared of you! I'll call the cops
Go ahead, you piece of shit! You think they'll show up?
- I'll cut you up, you bitch! - Calm down, man
- What did you say? - Nothing, but you're asking for a kicking
All right guys, no offence
My daughter steals money from me, I need it for my treatment
The bitch buys smack with it
I'll go have a smoke
These people need their brains repaired, not the pipes
That's why it stinks here
Different people live here
Go away
We're from the housing department. I've got the chiefs here with me
Hello, Fedor
Can we take a look at your bathroom?
Sure, sure, go ahead
It's one thing after another
Pipes burst, and then this son of a bitch goes crazy
That scum beats his own daughter, can you imagine?
He needs to be taken away, but the pigs, sorry, police, never do
Although, I let them go myself
Help us
With what?
Sure, we'll deal with it
Will they fix the pipes soon?
They shut the water off and we can't wash or cook anything
Soon, soon
- Go home - Yes sir!
- What did you say? - Don't get involved. They're all punks
Look, the old bat is going to crawl out
We're from the housing department. May we come in?
Get out of there, you punks!
Chill out, granny. Come over here, we'll get you stoned
They're all yours
I'm off for a piss
Oh, hi guys. What are you doing here?
We're from the housing department. Checking the pipes
I don't give a fuck about the pipes. I only shower once a week
There's plenty of water right now
I bring in snow from outside, and problem solved
And if the building collapses, I don't give a fuck as well
This is no life anyway, is it?
Hey guys, how about a shot or two, huh?
Well? Come on! Let's have some
Right...
Let's get going
One more game?
- What did they want? - Fuck knows...
Hey...
What are the chiefs doing here? Something serious?
- We don't know yet - Listen...
Trouble sleeping?
- What? - It's late
Why do you even care about us lowlives?
- Compassionate, are you? - I am what I am
- What were you doing there? - Fuck off
- That's some building... - No kidding
- Well? - This way
- What's the bottle for? - Look
Come here
Look down. Just be careful
- Far from the wall? - About three meters
- Did you give everyone their tasks? - Yes
Nina, what should I do about the guests?
Entertain them
Turn up the music
Tell the kitchen to hurry up with the main course
Many are getting ready to leave. Vostrikov is upset that you're not there
Well, make sure that he isn't upset
I can't be there. I've got other things on my mind
- Maybe we should let them go home? - Yeah right!
So they'd know we have a mess on our hands?
Give them enough booze to put them to sleep
Tell them I had to leave, but will be back shortly
Got it
The rumors will spread
The neighbors won't keep quiet. They'll get more from the budget
The most important thing is that the building does not collapse
Then there'll be facts, not rumors
Well?
Speak!
It's not good
It will probably collapse
Really?
Don't know. Looks like Nikitin was right
We need to get the people out of there
I told you we needed to be careful with district A
It was built in a rush, on unstable soil
We should've resettled everyone and demolished the building ages ago
Resettle them where, smart guy?
Give me two buildings with a hundred units each
We should have built them when we had the money
But you were too greedy!
Get out! Get out!
Half the budget goes up to grease the palms at the regional office!
Everyone there practically lives at resorts!
They all have cars, houses, wives all decked in gold
And if I refuse - they won't give us a penny
How much money did we get this year?
Just enough to tar a few roofs and replace a few main pipes
Pensioners are going hungry, three suicides a year
The disabled are waiting to get treated by the state
What about orphanages, and large family allowances?
I built a new maternity hospital! Do you think I'm made of money?
And how am I supposed to survive and raise my children?
I'm constantly under stress. I lived in fear for my life through the '90s
I'm responsible for everything: for taxes, for military enlistment, for elections
They'll either send me to prison, or pat me on the head
I want to live like a normal person!
I have 3 scars on my head, hypertension, ulcers and two divorces!
I'm a woman, mother and wife - I want to live like a normal person!
And so do you
That's why you grab a piece for yourself without a thought for others
You don't give a fuck whose walls are crumbling or whose roof is leaking
Because you have to finish laying down your own roof
Your house isn't much smaller than mine, four stories tall
Your son, a spoiled brat, rapist and drug addict with 6 arrests and 2 court cases
has an apartment in Moscow and goes to a private school
This one will soon have people dying from simple infections
while he steals all the supplies, down to the antiseptics
I bought new equipment for the hospital, he sold half of it
If I wasn't helping, you'd be treating people with roadside herbs
And this one has turned the police department into a racket
I looked the other way, "Go ahead, Sergey. Make some money"
I don't even know what you do. Sit on your ass all day, signing papers
There hasn't been a fire in the town for ten years
but we still allocate funds to get hoses, equipment, who knows what else!
Yeah, I make something out of every deal
But whose hands are clean here?
Perhaps one of you would like to take my place? Be my guest!
Only you oafs won't be able to hack it
Sucking that teat dry, but when something happens - blame "mama"
- And you call yourselves men? Pussies - Enough, Nina!
We all know that. We weren't born yesterday
I've always lived well, never had to beg, and don't plan on starting
And I don't give a shit what people think of me
If you can't take what you need, you'll live like a worm in shit
This never-ending talk about "corruption" - the whole country lives on bribes!
Even in the Soviet days, when my mother was dying of cancer
we had to grease some palms to get her medication
And now, you can't do anything without money!
I hate to interrupt such nice bureaucratic confessions
but what are we going to do now? Time's ticking
What are we going to do?
Evacuate the people
- Is this official? - Of course
I'll call the regional office and let them know
Why?
Regulations
Let's not raise a stink right now
Get the people out, and tomorrow we'll bring in the experts and equipment
Maybe it can still be repaired
And who will be responsible for the fuckups? Me or him?
And what should we tell the tenants? They're not a flock of sheep
If they realize that the building is failing, they won't go back
Well, then stage a fire, or any emergency situation
Anything. We need to keep them all out overnight
And in the morning, the experts will come. If there are really no other options...
We'll have to resettle everyone
I'll fall at Safronov's feet. He's building an entire block
Come on, go already! Do something!
We found all the documents. They're in the car
- If we need to, we can lose them - And what do you have?
Things are in pretty bad shape
The deficit in the repairs budget is 120 million
Oh God...
We certainly could have spent it...
but what do we have to show for it? That's a lot of money
A new construction site could justify it, but Safronov's investors won't cooperate
How much would it cost to resettle the dormitory?
There are 820 residents
An emergency means resettling all of them, and fast
At least 600 in the first two months. That's about 200 families
83 of those are multi-child families, there are 27 disabled, and 10 veterans
So we'll need about 60 two-room apartments, and the rest are one-room
I think that amounts to approximately...
...260 million
God damn it...
Oh God...
I'm such an idiot...
Right...
- Tanya, bring Safronov. Is he here? - He left about two hours ago
- Then I need to go find him - Wait, Nina
There's no time. If you have something to say, come with me
Go and get another unit there!
So wake them up! The gas workers too. That dormitory uses gas
Although I'm not sure. Find out
Get the guys ready. Two trucks at least
Check the fire hoses and the equipment, it's been ages since we used it
Set up a blockade around the perimeter. How long?
How long is the perimeter?
We'll talk about overtime later. Hey, watch your mouth, or I'll get you fired
Get me three ambulances, each with a doctor and two paramedics
You guys ready? Let's go
Wait!
- What happened? - Stand down for now
- Why? - We have to wait
- For whom? - I don't know. Nina said, wait
Right... Let's go have a drink, guys
Hey shit-stirrer, what are you standing there for? Let's go!
You've got ulcers or what?
Let's talk here. My relatives are visiting, I don't want them to know anything
I urgently need to resettle 600 people. I need 200 apartments, 2 buildings. Please help
Are you insane? How can I get you two buildings?
The nine-story buildings you built are still vacant, aren't they?
Those apartments were sold even before we broke ground
Only for a couple of months. I really need this, help me out
My budget will be approved soon, I'll buy them
What? I could be locked up for something like that
For a month at least, and then I'll think of something
Then I'll resettle them somewhere else
I have inspections and showings every week. There can't be anyone there
What are you doing, you bastard?
I sold you that land for next to nothing. Don't you have a conscience?
I have 800 people living in a dangerous building
I can't get them evacuated without having a place to resettle them
The housing budget will come under scrutiny
They will put me away for 15 years, like they did with Sorokin
No one will touch you
You pay a kickback to the governor, giving him some votes. There you go
If he starts to pressure you, threaten to give him up
- He'll get you off the hook - Right, or kill me
I could be killed too
Nina, I'm sorry, I can't
My investors used to tear people to shreds back in the 1990s
Sorry, I can't
Nina, you have no choice
What do you mean?
You can't evacuate anyone from that building
So what should I do? Bury them all in the rubble?
Who said the building will collapse for sure?
- Nikitin - That punk?
He just wants to sabotage Fedotov and take his job
And don't listen to that idiot waste-of-space Matyugin
- What about the risk? - The risk... There's always a risk
Are you one of Safronov's investors?
Nina, stop it
Are you? I saw how he looked at you. Well?
I am
And what about the people?
Living, breathing people, you scumbag
Shut your mouth, you bitch
When did you start worrying about the people?
Only when 800 of them might perish at once?
Were you worried about them when they were dying one by one?
When you took a piece for yourself out of every line in the budget
The roads are shit, one pot-hole on top of another, accidents every day
The people are drinking themselves to death, killing each other
because there are no decent jobs here, and the wages wouldn't suit a beggar
Kids are wasting their lives and shooting up in basements
The schools are a mess; teachers and doctors can't afford to buy food
Old people and the disabled are better off dying
You and I have been through this
How much have I done for you? You've been feeding off me your entire life
If it wasn't for me, you'd still be a secretary
Because you're a nobody, and I'm a somebody
And the higher-ups know that
Well?
What's the matter with you? Get yourself together
Here, you either live like a human being, or like cattle
There's not enough of the good life to go around
Divide it evenly, and nobody will get anything
Everyone will be equally poor
Come on...
Would that be better? No
I helped you become somebody, and you're biting the hand that holds you
Think about it long and hard - are you with them or with us?
So what do we do now?
We'll think of something. Get in the car
Look at them, all shitfaced, and not giving a damn
What do they care? They'll have different bosses, but they will still have their jobs
Stop whining, nothing's happened yet
Sometimes I think, why the hell did I have to become the chief?
I could've continued working as a surgeon; cut this, stitch that
God forbid I'm ever on your operating table
You will take out a kidney and sell it
And you're an unselfish soul, I suppose?
Catch a lot of crooks?
You're not so easy to catch. I try to put you away, but you bribe me
And I'm Russian, can't help but take it
- Fedor, come dance with us... - Get lost
Are you from another planet or something?
Anyone else would've taken one look and gone back home to bed
Why do you care?
- There are human beings in there - What human beings?
Trash...
and rejects
- Maybe they should just die - Children too?
The ones smoking junk and fucking in the attic?
What will they grow up to be? You tell me!
You shouldn't be grinding that axe here, kid
We're old and seasoned
We have seen a lot in this life. Especially me
Every other person in that dormitory either has an arrest or a conviction to their name
If there were fewer of those buildings, the world would be a better place
and life would be easier for normal people like us
Yes?
I'll be right back
Yes...
One more round before we leave
So, looks like everything's back on
We're evacuating the tenants, and waiting for inspectors
Nina wants to discuss something with the three of you. On the spot
- My boys will drive you there - We'll drive ourselves
What, drunk?
I forbid it as the chief of police
...That's two more years of work. I'm so sick of it
- Hey... - Go home
- Look, our very own bodyguards - Very funny. Get in
Well, are you happy now?
Why is there so few of you guys?
More are on their way
Where are we going? The 32nd is the other way
Don't listen, drive where you were told
Why? He's driving in the wrong direction
He's driving where we need to go
Hey, if you don't know the way, let me drive
Shut up already!
Watch who you're talking to
Galaganova... That ruthless bitch...
What's the matter with you?
Tolya, that building will collapse
And we "ran away"
What was it you said?
I "pocketed the money, kicked some back to you", and you "never bothered to check"?
They will blame everything on the two of us
Sayapin is a bitch too
We're done for, Tolya
What are you, nuts? There are 800 people there
She'll get them out, and blame us for the building
Hey guys, are you going to kill us?
Well? Answer me!
Shut your mouth and sit still
Stop here
Get back here
Let the kid go
He's just a plumber
He won't say anything
Are you fucking crazy?
What the fuck is all this?
- Shut up! - What?
Go
Take your family and leave town tonight
If you give us away, we'll find you and kill you
What are you waiting for?
You really are a fucking fool
Get lost! Now!
- Take him to his bed - Leave it
Where is he?
- At work, that's where - What's this work at 3am?
It is what it is
Get packing. Mom, help her
- Her things, Anton's and mine - What happened?
There's no time! Get ready!
Oh dear Lord...
- What happened? - Don't ask. I barely made it out alive
We need to leave, for a long time. Otherwise...
- Oh God! Holy Mother... - Shut it and do as you are told!
- Let's get you a taxi - Too risky. We'll catch a ride
- I'll go ask the neighbor for his car - I won't be able to return it!
We won't get any poorer. Go pack. I'll pull up to the entrance
Thanks
- Should I take the summer clothes? - Take everything. And all money we have
- How long will you be gone? - Forever, Mom
- Masha! - Easy, easy. Sit down!
My baby, oh dear God...
My son...
- Oh dear God! - Quit it, you'll wake everyone up
Oh Masha...
- Where are you headed? - I'll think about it on the way
We must get out of town. I'll call you when we get there
Mom
- I knew you'd get yourself in trouble! - Enough already, stop it
Off you go. She'll keep wailing until you leave, and wake everyone up. Go!
- Oh God... - Calm down, calm down
Dima! Son! My son...
- My son... - Easy, easy, calm down
Dima...
Good thing we got everyone drunk
And found all the documents
In the morning, nobody will remember a thing
Yes?
It's done?
All clean?
Good. Go home now
Get rid of the guns
I know they are government-issue, but we'll write them off
God forbid they find the bodies and we get caught over something stupid
Bye
It's done
God forgive us
God created this life and made us live it
All the documents are here
Do it
My husband is with Polosuhina right now. Bastard
Quit sobbing
We'll send her away. Let her shake her ass somewhere else
And send your husband in to see me
I'll explain to him how a man ought to treat his wife
Has he calmed down?
He's asleep
What happened?
Everything's rotten there, Masha
Where?
The administrative board
It's a snake pit
A bunch of crooks
Ready to eat each other alive. Vampires
When they realized that they fucked up, they decided to frame their own
They put me, Fedotov and the fire chief into a police car
And drove us to a quiet place
Fedotov turned out to be a decent person
I didn't expect that
He stood up for me
and they let me go
So where are we going now?
We need to get out of town
We'll spend the night in a hotel
and think of something in the morning
I promise
Well, thank you very much
We had a normal life
What were you thinking?
I was thinking about the people, dear
And Anton and I are not people?
- There are 800 people there - Are all of them your wives and children?
- Masha, don't - Don't what?
I didn't know it would end this badly
How else could it have ended?
They've been stealing for years. They sucked the town dry
Did you go there to preach and open their eyes?
Did you expect them to start righting their wrongs? Saving people?
- For them other people do not exist! - For me they do!
And I had to try
I will not be responsible for the deaths of 800 people, got it?
I get it
I get everything now
- I get to suffer because I live with you - So don't!
I'm sorry
But I proved to them that the building will collapse
At least they're getting the people out of there right now
Out of where? There's your dormitory over there. No one's around - everyone's asleep!
What the fuck are you standing here for? Let's go!
No one is there. No firemen, no cops
- Say that louder - maybe they'll appear - They were supposed to be here
And supposed to do what?
You sound like a kid. What world do you live in?
You were almost killed! Snap out of it and let's go!
What's the matter with you?
Take Anton and go
You mean without you?
Yes, I'm staying
Are you leaving us behind?
Masha, I'm not leaving anyone behind
Can't you see? They're not getting the people out
- They decided to just leave them there - So what?
Don't make me angry
Get in the car and go - you have a license
- What are you doing, you freak? - Listen to yourself, you idiot
There are hundreds of people in there. Have you no heart?
Dima...
they're nobodies to us
Shut your mouth
Masha, dear, get in the car and leave
Don't you see that I hate you right now?
Don't you understand?
We live like animals and die like animals because we are nobodies to each other
Tonya...
Have a drink. You'll feel better
- Why are you here? - I had to come back
Bastard! Are you out of your mind?
Leave, you hear me? They'll catch you, you fool!
- Leave! - Calm down
- Why didn't you leave? - I just couldn't
People will die
We drove past the dormitory - nothing is happening
- They are not evacuating - Because it's just your stupid idea, you fool!
The administration knows better. It's not going to collapse!
Who would want to be responsible for so many deaths? Fedotov?
They killed Fedotov!
Is Galaganova covering her tracks?
So what are you going to do?
If anyone spots me, they'll kill me
Do the people in the dormitory know that the building's unstable?
No
So what are you waiting for? Go tell them
Who's gonna listen to me?
Who wants to be left out on the street?
I need an official order. The information has to come from the top
Who am I? I'm just a plumber
Are you sure that it will collapse?
I'm sure
Forgive your mother and me, son
What for, Dad?
What did we ever give you?
Life
And what are you supposed to do with this life?
Look at your mom and I - we argue every day
There's no love or joy left between us
And we never taught you how to live
We are to blame for everything that's happened to you
Stop it, Dad
People are stealing by the truckload. By the millions
They step over each other and don't think twice. And you repair shitty pipes for a living
You wanted to help, to save people's lives - and they almost killed you
Leave, son
Things will never change around here
Never
The building is collapsing! Get outside! Quickly!
Get outside, hurry!
Get out of the building
- What happened? - The building is collapsing!
Quickly! Get out!
Olya, get dressed. I said, get dressed! Move it!
Get up! Run, outside! The building is collapsing!
Go outside! The building is falling, you hear me?
The building is falling
Oh yeah? Really?
Even I don't drink that much!
The building is falling
Let's go
Anyone here?
What's all this about? Is this a set-up?
Why are you standing here? Move away!
The building is collapsing! Do you understand?
Listen to me! If you don't believe me...
Quiet, everyone! Calm down!
Here's our hero!
He's the man!
- Don't... - Everything's fine
He is so brave! Look how many people he saved!
- Stop it... - Quiet!
There are decent people left in this world!
You're fired!
He's been sneaking around here since yesterday, stirring shit up! Get him!
Go home, everyone! Everything's fine
Don't touch me, you scum!
In memory of ALEXEY BALABANOV
NIKITIN ARTYOM BISTROV
Translation and subtitles by Eclectic Translations
GALAGANOVA NATALYA SURKOVA
BOGACHYOV YURY TSURILO
FEDOTOV BORIS NEVZOROV
MATYUGIN KIRILL POLUKHIN
FATHER ALEKSANDR KORSHUNOV
MOTHER OLGA SAMOSHINA
MASHA DARYA MOROZ
TULSKY SERGEY ARTSYBASHEV
ALCOHOLIC'S WIFE ELENA PANOVA
ALCOHOLIC DMITRY KULITCHKOV
SAFRONOV ILYA ISAEV
SAYAPIN MAXIM PINSKER
RAZUMIKHINA LUBOV RUDENKO
CHERNENKO IRINA NIZINA
NIKITIN'S SON GORDEY KOBZEV
EMELYANOV PETR BARANCHEEV
Writer, director, composer YURY BYKOV
Cinematography by KIRILL KLEPALOV
Production designer STANISLAV NOVAK
Costume designer OLGA POGODINA
Make-up artist ELENA SOKOLOVA
Sound designer ARKADY NOSKOV
Film editor YURY BYKOV
Executive producers ELENA BYSTROVA PHILIPP PASTUKHOV
Producers ALEXEY UCHITEL KIRA SAKSAGANSKAYA