The Fixer

The 1968 film The Fixer, directed by John Frankenheimer, is based on Bernard Malamud's acclaimed novel of the same name. The story is set in czarist Russia and follows Yakov Bok, a Jewish handyman who leaves his village for Kiev. Bok, who sees himself as someone who fixes what is broken, becomes entangled in a series of events that lead to his wrongful imprisonment.12

The novel, and by extension the film, explores themes of human cruelty and the constant vigilance required for freedom. Bok is accused of the ritual murder of a Christian boy and is jailed without trial for two years. Much of the narrative unfolds during his imprisonment, where he grapples with his fate and the injustices he faces. The film stars Alan Bates in an Oscar-nominated performance as Bok.12