House of Fools 2003

In the heart of turmoil, a psychiatric hospital nestled in Ingushetia, bordering war-torn Chechnya in 1996, serves as a sanctuary amidst chaos. While the medical staff mysteriously disappears, leaving the patients to fend for themselves, Zhanna remains unwavering in her belief that the pop legend Bryan Adams is her one true love, eagerly awaiting his return from his touring escapades. Embracing a sense of duty, Zhanna steps into a leadership role, striving to calm the fervent spirits of her fellow patients.

Oblivious to the storm that brews outside, the patients find comfort in their bizarre little universe, where reality is twisted and dreams take center stage. Within this strange reality, Ahmed (Sultan Islamov), a Chechen rebel, arrives and ignites the spark of romance by proposing to marry Zhanna. Enchanted by this prospect, she shifts her affections entirely towards Ahmed, redirecting her energy into preparations for their coming union with the help of her companions at the “House”.

As hope swells and dreams soar, Zhanna’s idyllic vision is shattered when reality crashes down, leaving her heartbroken as Ahmed departs unexpectedly. The once-promising future she envisioned dissipates into thin air, and in the wake of her shattered dreams, Zhanna returns to the “House”. There, she seeks solace in the comforting rhythms of her life, while outside, the cacophony of chaos continues, blurring the lines between her escapist fantasy and the stark reality she cannot ignore.