On August 10, the Yakut drama "Almost Like Everyone" by debutant Illarion Yakovlev is released. We tell you what makes this project notable.

The story of a guy in a wheelchair is not new at all, but nevertheless, the film still tries to maintain its individuality and charm the viewer with every trick it knows.

Dima (Vladimir Dormidontov) is a person with disabilities (even the police emphasize this in one scene). The hero voluntarily stays home all the time and never goes out. One might think his life is completely hopeless, but he has found a hobby—Dima writes music and wants to participate in a festival. From the outside, it even seems that the guy is quite satisfied with his life, even though it is limited by the walls of his apartment and the inability to move independently.

At some point, Dima's childhood friend Aisen (Ayaal Vinokurov) remembers him and, a decade after the accident, simply shows up at the protagonist's doorstep.

And here the film "Almost Like Everyone" could have taken any path for developing the relationships between the characters and the world around, but it chooses to be like everyone else. The daredevil friend opens up all the pleasures of ordinary life to the rather phlegmatic and cautious Dima: parties, drinking, and fights. Of course, Dima gradually gets a taste for it and begins to realize how much he has missed in life by locking himself within four walls.

No special discoveries or encounters happen to Dima; everything is classic—the brightest girl, the most absurdly ordinary problems, a goofy friend for more comedy, the realization of his freedom, and a happy ending.

A more or less interesting storyline could have been that of Aunt Tina—Dima's mother's younger sister. She appears before us as an atypically bright but lonely woman who "failed her life's task" and whose character resembles that of the dragonfly that "sang all summer red"—that is, she didn't start a family or have children. A very cool story could have been made with her, but alas, she is just a supporting character, so her character doesn't need much development.

"Almost Like Everyone" is replete with a bunch of references to famous films and movie characters, and some are even stated outright. But it's worth noting that this gives the film a certain individual flair of unashamed, kind simplicity.

"Almost Like Everyone" does not claim to be anything special, but it does a decent job of its task—showing a bright story of two friends, forgiving each other and letting go of the past.

Trailer: