The Fixer

The story of a man falsely accused, set in Russia. Yakov Bok is a Jewish handyman in a small town. When his wife leaves him he abandons the town for Kiev. There he conceals his identity, finds work in a district where Jews are not permitted to live, and starts at a brickworks. When a child is found dead the crime is pinned on him. The accusation rests on one of the oldest libels of the period and the case becomes a political instrument. Most of the film takes place in prison. Only one thing is asked of Yakov: confess. He is held in a cell for years, chained, starved, and offered the same bargain again and again. He does not sign. The idea is not heroism but obstinacy. Yakov is not political and does not even understand the affair; he simply will not admit to something he did not do. The source is Bernard Malamud's novel, which itself starts from a real case. Alan Bates plays Yakov and was Oscar-nominated for the role. Dirk Bogarde is in the cast. John Frankenheimer directed. A strong example for anyone who likes historical drama and prison stories. Before you watch, know this: the film shows torture and the conditions of the cell at length.