Signs Of Fatigue (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Signs Of Fatigue follows Ivan, a young music teacher whose flu-like illness refuses to pass. As his symptoms worsen, ordinary life becomes increasingly difficult to understand, and his perception of both the world and himself begins to change in this 20-minute Russian drama from Maxim Kuzhba.

Signs Of Fatigue is a 2026 Russian drama written and directed by Maxim Kuzhba. The 20-minute film centers on Ivan, a young music teacher dealing with an illness that initially appears ordinary but gradually becomes more troubling.

Rather than presenting the condition as a brief interruption to daily life, the story focuses on its persistence and its effect on Ivan’s sense of reality and identity. Kirill Chernoivanov leads the cast as Ivan, with supporting roles played by Violetta Balakireva, Afina Maslova and Galina Lokshina.

Signs Of Fatigue movie details

Story without spoilers

Ivan becomes ill with symptoms that seem similar to the flu. He attempts to maintain his normal routine, but the condition does not improve. Instead, the symptoms intensify, making it increasingly difficult for him to experience the world in familiar ways.

As his illness continues, Ivan’s understanding of his surroundings and of himself begins to shift. The film follows this progression without reducing the situation to a simple everyday ailment, placing its emphasis on the unsettling changes that accompany his worsening condition.

What to expect

As a drama with a 20-minute runtime, Signs Of Fatigue presents a compact story built around one character’s deteriorating condition. Its premise moves from recognizable illness toward altered perception, giving the film an increasingly disorienting foundation.

The supplied details point to an intimate character-focused narrative rather than a broad ensemble story. Viewers can expect the film to remain centered on Ivan’s attempt to continue his everyday life while the symptoms become harder to ignore. The premise also suggests a serious, unsettling tone, though specific stylistic or thematic conclusions are not established by the available information.

Cast and creative team

Kirill Chernoivanov plays Ivan, the young music teacher at the center of the story. Violetta Balakireva appears as the landlady, Afina Maslova plays a pupil, and Galina Lokshina portrays a doctor.

Maxim Kuzhba serves as both director and writer, shaping the film’s story about illness, routine and a changing perception of reality.

• Kirill Chernoivanov as Ivan
• Violetta Balakireva as Landlady
• Afina Maslova as Pupil
• Galina Lokshina as Doctor

Release and production context

Signs Of Fatigue is a Russian production from Saint Petersburg School New Cinema. It is spoken in Russian and has a runtime of 20 minutes. The supplied release date is October 17, 2026, and the film is listed as released. Its original title is Признаки усталости.

Production companies: Saint Petersburg School New Cinema

Reported production figures:
Budget $3,000

Movies Dock view

Signs Of Fatigue offers a concise dramatic premise: an apparently ordinary illness becomes an experience that changes how a young teacher understands his surroundings and himself. With Maxim Kuzhba credited as both writer and director, the film is positioned as a focused Russian short drama built around Ivan’s gradual loss of normality.

Film data:
TMDB