The Jester (Russian: Шут, romanized: Shut) is a 1988 Soviet drama film directed by Andrei Andreyevich Eshpai.
Valentin Uspensky, a bright and successful high school student with a sharp intellect, sees himself as a “natural-born psychologist.” Using a unique set of psychological techniques he calls “shuteny” (with his method named “shute”), he conducts experiments on those around him—teachers, classmates, and even strangers.
His games, sometimes harsh, are justified in his mind by a noble purpose: “to prick preemptively, so life doesn’t scar them.” The only one who seems to understand his behavior is his math teacher, Igor Alexandrovich.
Adhering to his belief that “hypocrisy is a tool to use external flaws to better the world,” Valentin attracts the attention of a classmate, Irina Bogdanova, who is intrigued by his unusual approach.
Returning home afterward, he disdainfully rejects the values of his parents, a professor of Japanese studies and his devoted wife.