The Man Who Surprised Everyone (2018) - full transcript

When a Siberian state forest guard discovers he has cancer and only two months left to live he chooses to take the identity of a woman as a way of fighting the disease.

with financial support

of the Ministry of Culture

of the Russian Federation

General Producer

Ekaterina Filippova

Co-producers:

Katrin Kissa (Estonia)

Guillaume de Seille (France)

Co-producers:

Alexander Rodnyansky

Evgeniy Tsyganov

Natalya Kudryashova

That's it.

The ears are warm now.

What about your nose?

My nose?

The Man Who Surprised Everyone

Is it too heavy?

Put your weapons

on the ground.

Gun him down!

Are you alive?

Fucker!

Just remember - these pills

will kill the pain for some

time,

but then the effect

will die down.

Can you tell me exactly

how long I have left?

I can't say exactly.

Maybe 2 months.

Each case is different.

Have you made your mind up

about a hospice?

I talked about one

that would make it easier

for your family.

Everything is provided,

breakfast, lunch, dinner,

linens,

painkillers,

all at the state's expense.

I'll think about.

I have some time.

You said 2 months.

I didn't say 2 months.

I said,

2 months maybe...

Will my wife be able

to withdraw it?

Yes, by proxy.

But if you open one for 3 months

you can get more benefits.

No, just 2 months.

It's fine.

Oh, hey there

Egor Petrovich.

Is that it?

Got anything tasty?

Egor!

Hey.

What did the law enforcement

tell you?

Everything was legal?

Self-defense?

Zakhar, when are you

gonna fix the problem

with the power station?

Well, I took care of it.

They notified me.

They'll factor in the times

it was shut off.

So, there'll be blackouts

in winter again,

we'll stay without electricity

and then they'll factor it in?

- Well, what can I do?

- Do something, at least.

So?

What did they tell you?

The limits of self-defense

were not exceeded.

So...

I thought

they would put you in jail.

They won't.

Don't worry.

- Alright.

- Oh, hey Dad!

- What's this?

- There you go!

Wow...

We're going to have dinner

soon.

- Dad, did you get a big scar?

- It's small.

Everyone at school

says you're a tough guy.

Where's the grub?

Wait, dad.

What's this?

- Cod's liver.

- A delicacy.

Egor bought it,

just a little surprise.

We're going to have it

with potatoes...

Dad...

It's shit.

He's become a burden.

Dad's become a burden...

Listen, we should fix up

mom's gravesite.

But probably in the spring,

right?

We shouldn't do it

now.

Cause it'll settle down

during the winter.

Yep.

Look what I bought

from the Chinese.

Pretty isn't it?

It's for our baby girl.

Will you let me sleep?

Go to sleep.

Sleep.

No one

is bothering you...

Why aren't you sleeping?

Sleep.

I can't.

Natasha,

we shouldn't...

When I was pregnant with Artyom,

you didn't care.

Look, it bursts here...

Of course it bursts,

it is all rotten...

Come on or you'll be running

back

and forth.

Egor!

Egor!

Natasha!

Natasha!

I was up on the roof

and then I landed

on the couch.

What is this?

Egor!

Dad, what is this?

Get out of here!

Sit down.

I put some money in the bank,

with interest.

and we're going to make it

in your name.

So you won't waste time

getting it through my will.

Should be enough

for the funeral.

You should sell

the hayfields.

2 hectares of land,

that should be good money.

You should apply

for state aid,

survivor's benefit

for each child.

I wrote it down here,

a type of checklist.

Don't say anything

to anyone.

I got sick

and that's that.

We'll get the rest of the

harvest,

and I'll go to a hospice.

They said

that we won't have to pay for

it.

So we won't be

wasting money.

Are you listening

to me?

You'll go to the medics.

Natasha...

Even the most hopeless cases

can be cured nowadays.

Natasha,

there are no options.

Who said that?

Our local doctors?

They're all idiots!

There are other doctors.

We just need

to get some money.

We can get some.

People will help us.

Let's not involve anyone else

in this.

I'm not going to beg.

Can we somehow speed up

the modernization process?

To avoid new blackouts.

My people are growling.

There are

some highly nervous ones.

Well yea.

Wait a bit.

I'll be running

for local council in spring,

I don't need this tension.

The thing is

no one's gonna remember

that I set up their celebration

of the village day.

People forget the good

you do.

This professor from Moscow

will stay for only a week.

there's going to be

some kind of seminar.

We just don't have

that much.

Yeah,

force majeure.

- Where's Egor?

- He's at work.

Ok, you go ahead

and ask around the village.

They'll give you at least

what they can...

And I'll try to find something

in the reserve fund.

Whatever is left

in there.

Thank you.

Don't thank me yet.

Just don't tell Egor about this.

Okay?

Be strong...

I was hiding it from Stepan,

so he wouldn't spend it all

on booze.

I would give more money,

if there was any more....

Thank you.

So they grab the goat

and bring it

to the veterinarian.

He takes an X-ray examination

and says

"How am I going

to get your money out?

The paper bills

are already half digested.”

Vasilich says "Cut it open,

at least we'll save a half”.

And Oksana says: "No.

I won't let you kill the goat

for your half-digested money.

Next time you won't hide it

in the goat shed".

- Let me give you some more.

- No, I'm fine.

Good evening everyone.

Bon Appetit.

Oh, Zakhar Victorovich.

Come join us.

No I can't,

I don't have time.

Here...

You like to criticize

your countrymen,

but they don't remember

your hate.

Good-bye.

Egor,

we really love you

and respect you,

We know you're a strong man

and a proud one.

Just do us a favour,

please.

- We need to go to the doctor.

- We closed this subject.

You closed it.

Dad...

Please...

Please excuse me,

but I won't take your money.

Don't worry about it,

we have money, we can pay...

No, it's almost

at the terminal stage.

I'm sorry

but I'm afraid I can't help you.

But there are new medicinal

products nowadays.

- Please take the money...

- Hold yourself together!

Please, I'm begging you!

Please!

Wait, Egor!

Please take the money!

Natasha...

You're holding it tight.

You like to hold things tight?

You can't hold everything tight.

You won't be able to.

Just try to let go.

Come on...

There you go...

That's it,

I cleansed him.

Thanks.

Don't look back

on your way home.

They say that a blind man

was brought to her last year.

She touched him,

and he began to see.

I'm not blind.

Remember,

when you served in the Navy

I came to visit you

at the sea?

Remember the storm

on the 3rd day?

You were on guard duty.

I was all alone and I felt sad.

So I went to the pier.

There was a storm, the sea

was raging. It was beautiful.

So I was on the pier

and the 1st wave hit my knees;

the 2nd one

hit my chest.

The 3rd one

pulled me into the water.

I never told you this.

I started to struggle

in the ice cold water.

Then I saw some alcoholics

walking down the shore.

They saw me

and ran up with a stick.

and they started

to throw it to me.

"Grab it!" But the waves

were pulling me away.

I felt I was running out

of strength.

I was ready to give up.

I fell

into a state of apathy.

But suddenly I thought

"Well yeah,

so I'm going to drown now,

and they'll come to you

and tell you about it.

And you will just stand

there silently..."

And I just felt

so sorry for you.

Natasha...

And I started to feel sorry

for myself.

So I just pulled through

and got hold of the stick.

Then they pulled me out.

They gave me a coat

and some alcohol.

They even walked me

to the dormitory.

I didn't even catch a cold.

- It didn't help you?

- Was it supposed to help?

Well, I can't give you

your money back.

I spent it all on vodka.

I'm going to tell you

a little story.

The Story of Jumba the Drake

and Death.

There lived drake upon a lake.

Jumba was his name.

His time to die

came.

Just like with you,

but he didn't want to die...

So here's what this smartass

come up with...

He walked out on the road,

and rolled around in the dust.

He became grey as a duck.

He looked just like a duck.

And when Death came

to take him away,

She couldn't recognize him

among the ducks.

So Death went home empty.

Jumba tricked her.

- Dad, you need some help?

- No, it's fine.

I got an ‘A' in math today.

For the 1st time.

Good job.

Go on with it.

Artyom, what's wrong?

You're a man.

Just like that.

Yeah.

Hey!

Are you busy?

No.

Do you mind

if I smoke?

Egor,

just don't lose faith.

Maybe it still

can be cured.

I have a tumor too,

in my throat.

It's been there for a while,

it's just encapsulated.

That's what they said.

If you need anything,

just tell me.

Ok, Stepa, if I need anything,

I'll let you know.

Get better.

Egor...

Egor...

Stop right there,

bitch!

Who are you?

Egor!

What is all of this?

Wait!

What's wrong?

You overslept, Natasha.

Egor, talk to me.

Can you hear me?

Egor!

Can you hear me?

Don't come

in the house.

- Where's dad?

- Dad?

He isn't feeling well.

He decided to live

in the sauna for a bit.

Eat.

- Where are you going?

- To see dad.

Sit down.

Sit down, I said.

Artyom,

you're already grown up.

Dad isn't feeling well.

He doesn't want to see

anyone.

He doesn't want us

to see him weak?

Eat. You gonna be late

for school.

Have you gone mad?

Get out of here!

I won't let you, bitch!

I forbid you!

You wanna shame all of us,

you bastard?

Why can't you

just die normally?

Thanks dad...

- Where's Artyom?

- He went off with the boys.

Did you guys eat?

There was buckwheat left.

Yeah, that's what we had to eat.

You should bring some to Egor.

I will.

- Come on.

- Pass.

- Right here. Come on.

- Pass.

- Go! Go!

- Pass.

Go! Go!

Will someone

give me a pass?

We don't play

with fags.

What?

who's a fag here?

Your father is a fag

and you're too!

- You're the fags!

- What did you just say?

You think you're tough

huh?

Now you'll know...

Bastard!

You creep!

Take that,

you bitch.

Dad!

Dad!

Please come out...

Dad! I don't believe

what they say!

Dad, come out...

They're all lying!

It's not true.

Dad, please...

Dad, please...

Tyoma...

Tyoma, get up...

I'm not going to school.

Natasha, what's that crowd doing

in front of our house?

- I don't believe it.

- But why is he hiding?

Natasha,

what's going on out there?

Egor!

They won't leave.

Come out here,

say something to them...

Tell them you had

a mental breakdown

because of your sickness.

Or I could tell them

that you were just joking.

I only want

the best for you.

How much time do you have left?

Just die like a man.

- What are you doing out here?

- I want to speak with Egor.

- I said get out of here!

- Why are you yelling at him?

- Where do you think you're

going?

- Have Egor come out.

Get out of here!

Let's break the door

and see.

Get out

of my yard!

Get out of here!

Open up, Egor!

You can't go inside.

He's ill. Is that clear?

- Egor!

- Leave! Get out of here!

Step back!

We'll just take a look and go.

Get out of my yard!

Egor Petrovich?

Get up.

Egor, that's enough.

We don't need your "parades”

here.

You either stop this

or get lost.

Guys,

what are you doing?

Come on

that's enough!

Are you nuts?

Stop that, now!

Get away! All of you!

Move it!

Get the fuck

outta here!

Hi there.

Nice to meet you.

You're so pretty.

I haven't been with a woman

for a month.

What's your name?

Easy-easy-easy-easy...

Chase him down!

Go, Go, Go.

Round him up!

From the left!

There he is!

Flip him over.

Let's have a look.

Come on,

turn him over.

Yeah, like this.

Hello, handsome!

Look,

he's got earrings...

Ok, what should

we do with this beast?

Well, Fitch,

go drill him.

No! No way!

I won't do it.

You have to do it.

You lost the bet.

Get his butt out.

Hurry up, Fitch.

Hold him tighter,

He might escape.

Don't wanna chase after him

again.

- Are you serious?

- Come on - come on - come on!

- I'm no faggot...

- Come on - come on - come on!

Get to work,

come on...

- Why isn't he breathing?

- Who the hell knows.

He doesn't breathe at all.

Whatever, fuck him,

let's get out of here.

Wait I don't get it.

Where's the tumor?

Let's go through it

one more time.

written and directed

by Natasha Merkulova

& Aleksey Chupov

Director of Photography

Mart Taniel

SUBTITLES - CINEPROMO