The Humorist (Humorists), dir. Michael Idov, 90′, Russia/Czech Republic/Latvia, 2019
The story takes place in August-September, 1984. It is a film about a week in the life of Boris Arkadiev, a fictional Soviet stand-up comedian. Boris is tormented not only by external oppression and censorship but also by his own insecurities that poison all his relationships. Fame, combined with lack of personal freedom, is driving him crazy — especially when the same people who dictate what he can and can’t joke about keep summoning Arkadiev to their villas and saunas as a kind of court jester. Finally, the comedian snaps and — armed with the exotic American notion of “insult humor” — takes his revenge.
