HOUSE OF FOOLS

Russia, 2002, 104 minutes, Colour.
Julia Vysotsky, Eugeni Mironov, Soltan Islamov, Stanislav Varkki, Elena Formina, Marina Politseimako, Bryan Adams.
Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky.

House of Fools is a frantic Russian film. It is set in a mental institution in Chechnya and is a comment by director Andrei Konchalovsky about the Russian situation vis-à-vis Chechnya, the invasion, the atrocities committed there, war and madness. At times it is difficult to separate the insane inmates of the asylum from the allegedly sane characters. This means the film is very topically Russian – and may have difficulty translating to a wider audience that is not familiar with the details about the Russian war with Chechnya.

Konchalovski was a distinguished director in Russia for almost twenty years before he moved to the United States. He made such Russian classics as Uncle Vanya and Sibiriada.

Konchaovalski’s American films of the 80s were Maria’s Lovers, Duet for One and Shy People. He also directed The Inner Circle in the 1990s and the telemovie, The Odyssey.

1. Based on a true story? The credibility of the characters and the events? Russia and Chechnya? The civil war? The fact that they were allies in Afghanistan and this being alluded to? The madness of war?

2. The themes of war, the violence, the savagery - and yet the possibility of friendship, the paying for the corpse of the dead man? In memory of war in Afghanistan? Yet the ferocity of the fight around the asylum?

3. The work of the director, his Russian background, his experience in the United States? His return home, examining the '90s, the end of the Soviet empire, war, the borders, the former republics? His attitude towards war and violence?

4. The title, its focus on the asylum? The first twenty minutes and the detailed introduction of all the characters? The eccentricities of the behaviour, the particular types of mental illness, the interactions? The meals together, the shared rooms? The doctor and his management? The nurse and the tablets? The meals? The introduction to the main characters: Vika and her dominance, Shorty and the role of the dwarf, the Muslims, especially the man acting as a Muezzin? The man dressed in tights? Ali and his poetry, his glasses - and his being able to take control when necessary? Lucy and her sharing the room with Janna? The supporting characters? The elderly?

5. The background of the war, the attack of the Chechens, the explosions and the violence? The leader, Ahmed and his music? Their taking charge of the asylum, with their Russian prisoners? Settling in, the meals? Janna and her going over to them, Ahmed and his mock proposal, her believing it? Her getting dressed, the gifts from the other inmates? His having to keep his word, the others being a witness?

6. The Chechens and their having to leave, the invasion by the Russians? The violence, the Chechens, on the roof, the Russians and their clashes within the asylum? The Russian leader and his needing an injection? The men not to know?

7. The film's focus on Janna and Ali? Their friendship? Janna and her dreams of love for Bryan Adams? Ali and his poetry?

8. The imagination - especially with the train, the light coming on, Bryan Adams appearing and singing 'Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman' from Don Juan di Marco? Its recurring throughout the film? Her escape into the dream world, marriage? Her talking about Bryan Adams, his career, feeling that she might betray him if she married someone else but his forgiving her? His final appearance and consolation to the inmates?

9. The Chechens and their presence, the doctor going to find the bus, the nurse disappearing? Their having to manage, Ali taking charge? Their ability to feed themselves, to survive?

10. The return of the doctor, the Russians? The resumption of life?

11. The background of the war, the collapse of the helicopter into the grounds? The ceasefire for the exchange of the corpse but the Russians letting them have the money? Ahmed and his leaving, the trucks? His return, his pretending to be one of the inmates, at the table eating, their all supporting him? His going to see the doctor?

12. The Russian style, tone - heaviness of drama, of emotion, of satire? The madness of war and the paralleling of the inmates and the fighting?