House of Fools (2003)
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40% of critics liked it
(48 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(2,861 ratings)
War brings together a disillusioned soldier and a sweet but delusional woman in this romantic comedy-drama from director Andrei Konchalovsky. A small Russian mental hospital near the border of Chechnya is home to a group of eccentric but harmless patients, among them Janna (Julia Vysotsky), a… More War brings together a disillusioned soldier and a sweet but delusional woman in this romantic comedy-drama from director Andrei Konchalovsky. A small Russian mental hospital near the border of Chechnya is home to a group of eccentric but harmless patients, among them Janna (Julia Vysotsky), a cheerful woman who likes to play accordion and is convinced pop singer Bryan Adams is her fiancé; over-excitable Vika (Marina Politseymako); and highly prolific would-be poet Ali (Stanislav Varkki). When fighting between Russians and Chechens flares up and bombing threatens the hospital, the doctor in charge (Vladas Bagdonas) goes out to find vehicles to evacuate his patients, briefly leaving them to their own devices. While the doctor is away, a group of Chechen soldiers happen upon the hospital, but they seemingly mean no harm to the patients, and one of them, Ahmed (Sultan Islamov), starts flirting with Janna. Janna quickly falls head over heels for Ahmed, and leaves behind her treasured Bryan Adams poster to be with him...though in her mind, Adams isn't about to give up her affections without a fight. As love grows between them, Ahmed finds himself wondering just who is supposed to be sane -- the lunatics at the hospital, or the soldiers fighting a pointless war. Bryan Adams appears as himself in Dom Durakov, and sings several songs, including his international hit "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Andrey Konchalovskiy
- Written By
- Andrey Konchalovskiy
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Apr 25, 2003 Limited
- Studio
- Paramount Classics
Critic Reviews
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Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Vysotsky projects an essential sunniness that helps keep the film from turning maudlin.
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Marta Barber, Miami Herald
It may be based on a true story, but another filmmaker told it before -- and better.
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Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
It ultimately feels like a folly that sounded great in the filmmaker's head, so great that he had to be put on screen, where it flounders around with no small degree of embarrassment.
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Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
There's not much to Konchalovsky's tale ... but it's often beautifully told; a gentle fantasy of a harsh time.
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Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With its cast of nauseatingly lovable lunatics, House of Fools may make you feel like you've been tricked into suffering through the Kevin Spacey flick K-Pax with subtitles.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Bryan Adams
as Himself
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Julia Vysotsky
as Janna
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Sultan Islamov
as Ahmed
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Stanislav Varkki
as Ali
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Vladas Bagdonas
as Doctor
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Yevgeny Mironov
as Soldier
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Elena Fomina
as Lucy
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Marina Politseymako
as Vika
- Julia Vissotskaya
- Eugenj Mironov
- Anatoli Adoskin
- Marina Politsejmako
- Rasmi Dzhabrailov
- Vladimir Fyodorov
- Yelena Fomina
- Yevgeni Mironov
- Yuliya Vysotskaya
