At the end of 2014, the UK premiered the Russian film "Leviathan" directed by A. Zvyagintsev. Despite the fact that the film immediately after the premiere won several prestigious film awards, its appearance caused a serious scandal in Russia, and the screening of the picture in cinemas was postponed until February 2015.
Bible story
The Russian film "Leviathan" is a modern interpretation of the biblical story of Job's struggle with the mythological monster Leviathan. According to the director’s idea, in the film this word means a state machine - thoughtless, soulless, destroying any freedom and human nature itself. Drawing a parallel with the biblical storyline in Leviathan, director A. Zvyagintsev tries to show the eternal theme of the relationship between the “little man” and the powerful state apparatus, which should protect, preserve, but in any case with all mercilessness chokes in its arms and rubs it to dust.
Initially, the director took as a basis the real story of a simple person in the United States who became a victim of state bureaucracy, but subsequently the action of the Leviathan plot was transferred to Russia, on the coast of the cold Barents Sea - the harsh edge completely corresponded to the director's idea, which was the basis of the picture.
Polar estimates
Russian film "Leviathan" in the cinemas of old Europe was immediately accepted by film critics on "Hurray!", It has already won several prestigious film awards:
- was awarded the American Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film;
- this film was nominated for an Academy Award;
- won the prize for best directing at the 67th Cannes Film Festival.
At that time in Russia, the movie “Leviathan” caused a serious scandal and caused a split in society: while some praise the courage and depth of the director’s intention, others note the gross inconsistencies of the plot and call it difficult to understand in Russia itself. Critics have noted the rather meaningless content of the film "Leviathan", flavored with an atmosphere of hopelessness and despair, which are expressed here in a variety of artistic ways.
According to most of those who have already watched Leviathan, in this film Russia appears as a country where amorphous limp creatures live, who have no better idea than drowning their longing in a sea of vodka, and after watching the movie an unpleasant aftertaste remains. According to some of the film critics, this makes his success in the Russian box office doubtful. In addition, “Leviathan” has not yet been shown in cinemas, since it has not received a rental certificate due to the presence of profanity, which is contrary to Russian law.
