Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Alex Watson
Andrey Zvyagintsev's Leviathan is a stunningly shot story of corruption and family plight. Its reference to Job and the old testament aids the story well and this tale of the working class standing up to nepotism is truly heart rendering. Amidst the boarded up buildings and the crashing sea against the rocks, Zvyagintsev finds a beauty rarely found in such simple story telling. The result is one of the strongest pieces of Eastern Europe cinema in 2015.
Working class man Kolya (Alexey Serebriakov) owns a small but beautiful house overlooking a waterfront in the costal town of Pribrezhny. Corrupt local mayor Vadim (Roman Madyanov) wants to buy the property to start his own business empire, as the local has substantial business value. As his home is a symbol for his life of hard work, Kolya refuses to move and enlists the help of his Moscow lawyer friend Dimtri (Vladimir Vdovichenkov) he sets about to keep it. But his problems are only just beginning.
After summoning up such emotional rawness with his 2003 effort, The Return, in Leviathan, director
Andrey Zvyagintsev once again is able to capture the bitterness and dilemma of every day people. Kolya is not an easy man, he is quick to anger and is heavily belligerent. But all around him he is beset by greed, even from his closest friends who seem to love his mechanic skills, but not necessarily the man himself. His family life is one that is tenuous as his younger second wife Lilia (Elena Lyadova) seems to treat him with distant hostility. Even Dimtri despite the friendly and helpful facade, may also be have his own agenda.
Fat cat Vadim is one that abuses the full length of his power to the extreme, in the opening scene he drunkenly berates the man stating "You have no rights... nor will you ever!" His the very face of crookedness and throughout there are no lengths to which he will not sink. As the vodka swirls in his belly, Vadim has a phone filled with doing bidders who will happily do his dirty work at the touch of a button. The result is one that is very devastating, early on there is a hopeful tone to things as Kolya and Dimtri appear to reach a break through. What follows slowly strains relationships and both loyalty, family ties and friendship are called into question.
A religious theme reigns heavily over the feel of the movie, but you get the sense that in Pribrezhny that God has left these shores long ago. In Vadim's conversation with a Russian Orthodox priest, even he gives subtle hints at possibly liabilities. In one memorable scene, he gives a lengthy speech about truth and cardinal values in this world, the paradox of this is unshakable and its effect doesn't sink in until long after the credits. Kolya is a man who although not religious, continually has his faith shaken as he long acquainted friends turn on him without thinking twice! There is a ghostly feel to this aftermath and as we witness him sat by the sea, nursing a vodka bottle asking "Why God?" you cannot help but ask the same questions!
Alexey Serebriakov steals our hearts with a fiercely intense performance as Kolya. Giving the man a wonderful brooding self hatred, it makes his descent into misery all the more gut wrenching. A fiery presence whenever on screen, he firmly captures the plight of the common man and Zvyagintsev linking of his character to Job in the Old Testament makes this a memorable turn! As the drunken Roman Madyanov, makes for a memorable on screen sleaze bag. Demonstrating a wonderful sneering contempt for those below him, Madyanov embodies the modern day underhanded businessman and makes Vadim so believable that you be convinced if an entire town was under his payroll!
Leviathan is a movie that make long is running length and the desolation setting and its haunting aftermath may leave some lacking the needed closure. But the power of the story, direction and acting will be hard to beat in European cinema this year.
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