Leviathan ***** (2014, Elena Lyadova, Vladimir Vdovichenkov) – Movie Review

Russia’s official submission to the best foreign language film category of the 87th Academy Awards in 2015 is a superb movie.

Vladimir Vdovichenkov gives a fiery performance as the troubled, embattled Dmitri, who is forced to fight the corrupt mayor of his bleak but beautiful small Russian coastal town when the local court rules that his house will be demolished. With the help of an old Army friend in Moscow (Vladimir Vdovichenkov), now a lawyer, Dmitri fights back with dirt the attorney has collected on the mayor. But this only brings further misfortune for Dmitri and his wife and teenage son.

The acting is special from all the talented principals, intense, naturalistic and involved. Roman Madyanov makes an excellent, sleazy, sweaty villain, and Elena Lyadova gives a moving performance as Dmitri’s wife Lilya.

Andrey Zvyagintsev directs in fine, grand, uber-confident style, with a very strong, well-plotted screenplay, with excellent dialogue, co-written by him and Oleg Negin. They won the Best Screenplay award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.

Sometimes a bit gruelling, this is not a very cheery tale, but it is a thoroughly rewarding one. Mikhail Krichman’s cinematography is remarkable, with Zvyagintsev unafraid to hold shots long and meaningfully, and the sparingly used score is mighty effective.

With much warmth and some humour along the way, the film is very satisfying and totally engrossing for all its 140 minutes. You’re in there the whole time with the hero, willing him his victory. Leviathan is depressing but not grim. It is an art movie but it’s also a nailbiting thriller. It might well have deserved the Cannes Palme D’Or it was in competition for. Let’s see what the Oscar voters say.

In the event, it did not win the Oscar but it did win the 2015 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, the London Critics Circle Film Award for Foreign Language Film of the Year and the Best Film award at the 2014 London Film Festival. Zvyagintsev won the Best Film award at the London Film Festival again in 2017 for Loveless.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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