The Idiot(s)

Drama

★ Shortlisted by Ariane, Frances

Programme: Special Presentations
Year: 2026
Runtime: 118 min
Country: Poland, Germany
Language: French / English / German

Fyodor Dostoyevsky and his wife Anna travel to Europe for their honeymoon and end up staying in a health resort in Switzerland, only to return to Russia after four years. Fyedya can’t shake his roulette habit and keeps losing their money. His wife accepts this fate since he keeps assuring her that it’s all for inspiration and soon he shall write his to-be masterpiece, 'The Idiot'.

From the TIFF programme

Aimee Lou Wood and Johnny Flynn bring to life the story of Anna and Fyodor Dostoevsky, showcasing the troubled author and the woman who pushed him to write one of his greatest works.

Sunday, September 17: This screening will be presented with open captions and live captioning for the onstage components.

The Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky is renowned as one of the greatest writers and most influential thinkers of his time. However, behind the monolithic image of the literary giant is a lesser-known story and next to the man through his most tumultuous times was the wife who supported him.

Fyodor (Johnny Flynn, & Sons, TIFF ’25) is a gambling addict, struggling to make money, delaying any type of creative spark, and generally lacking ambition to create his next work. The motivation he needs comes from Anna (Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus), who believes in him, his vision, and his art. With her backing he’s finally able to make something of himself and put out a new novel — The Idiot.

Adapting the literary biography The Gambler Wife by Andrew D. Kaufman, directors Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert showcase a story of a troubled artist with many demons and the woman who did her best to lift him up in spite of himself. Wood and Flynn provide enigmatic and bold performances bringing depth and heartfelt honesty to two people consumed by art but entangled in a chaotic relationship. While Fyodor had more notoriety, this is a fully realized portrait of Anna, who went on to become a powerful figure in her own right.

ROBYN CITIZEN

Content advisory: mature themes