Original subtitles

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 is 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

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

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