Leviathan-2014

Director Andrey Zvyagintsev

Starring Aleksei Serebryakov

Scott’s Review #370

Reviewed January 16, 2016

Grade: B+

Nominated for the 2015 Best Foreign Language Film (Russian), Leviathan is a tale of governmental corruption at the expense of the “little man”, mixed in with a family drama- and is quite heavy.

The film is above average.

It’s a standard, tense drama, if you will, though a bit slow-moving at times. This is less a complaint than an observation.

As with many Foreign-language films versus American films, there is more nudity (not in a gratuitous way) and fewer explosions, which is admirable, and hats off to foreign-language films as a whole.

Leviathan made me think of the overall foreign-language film genre in that assessment, as it did not need CGI or any other “bells and whistles” commonplace in current American films.

Set in a gorgeous coastal area of Russia, featuring landscapes and outdoor shots, Leviathan is a story with religious overtones mixed with drama.

“Good vs. evil” and both sides questioning God or defending their actions for God are key themes.

The protagonist, Koyla, lives with his second wife, Lilya, and his son Roma in a coastal fishing town. Koyla is hot-headed and sometimes expresses rage, but is a good man living a simple life as a mechanic.

The corrupt Mayor is determined to take Koyla’s land and build a villa, offering Koyla an insulting sum to sell it.

The disputed land is currently in legal hands, and Koyla’s handsome lawyer friend, Dima, arrives from Moscow to handle the case and support the family in their uneasy times.

A secondary plot involves a love triangle between Koyla/Dima/Lilya, and Roma’s hatred for Lilya that, while somewhat interesting on its own terms, does little to advance the main plot, and I am not sure how necessary it was to the film as a whole.

It has nothing to do with the land dispute and was left unresolved.

The clear “hero” of the film is Koyla, but he is no saint himself. He drinks heavily, at one point smacks his son (albeit deservedly so), and has a temper.

But a corrupt figure is taking his land, which makes Koyla empathetic and likable.

Leviathan is a compelling film as the clear message received is “bully vs. beleaguered working man”. The mayor is a fat, unattractive, drunken bully, and the audience is instructed to root against him.

He has the town justice department in his back pocket and uses blackmail to achieve success.

The film brings religion into the plot as a priest tells the mayor he is doing “God’s work”, thereby justifying his motivations (at least in his mind). Later, a defeated Koyla talks with a religious man who questions God and God’s actions.

The film feels cold despite being set in what I believe is summer or fall. There is a chill in the air; it always looks windy, and the film’s look reflects that. This is effective, as Leviathan is a dreary film with an unhappy ending.

Life is harsh and cruel, and the film extends that message.

I didn’t quite understand Lilya’s motivations, and not much is known about her character, despite her involvement in the events. What motivates her to have an affair with Dima? Why does she return to Koyla? Is she unhappy and seeking a more glamorous life?

This can be assumed but is never made clear, which makes her a mysterious character.

What I enjoyed most was the final thirty minutes or so. When a character suddenly dies, I wondered whether a particular character was responsible before it was revealed what truly happened.

A cinematic treat and an interesting premise, mixed with a bit of religion and a whodunit, make the Russian film Leviathan a worthy viewing experience.

Oscar Nominations: Best Foreign Language Film

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best International Film