/film/ - Film★

WebDL is making the rounds, gonna check it out and report back

>>2671 (OP)
I really enjoyed it. Probably the best thing I have seen from this year, along with Winter Sleep.

davai. Personally I liked the first 1/3 of the film which was mostly about the corrupt russian bureaucracy and then that thread starts to crumble into the nature of the russian people. I liked it a lot though, and it feels like it captures a part of Russia both true and stereotypical.

it's shit

it's shit

it's shit?

you could say the depiction of the local govt was heavy handed
granted this could be seen as part of the link with the story of Job
overall the film probably wasn't as manipulative as some oscar bait

I felt the ending sequence was breathtaking, rightly so in view of the precedent scene and the subtly implied subtext; great filmmaking all along.
I enjoy the piece of music that is played, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ql8TidvZto

>>2948
Fair enough

>>2949
Yeah there was lots of fascinating undertones in The Return as well, at least that's my memory of it. Things you halfway ignore on the first watch, but that add meaning once you've seen the whole film.

And I agree with you, I loved the whole ending sequence to Leviathan.

What's the deal with Russian Ministry of Culture trying to push exclusively patriotic films?

I guess every government behaves a similar self-interested fashion, but it's troubling to see it taken so far.

Anyway this film was worth seeing and I hope the director can continue to receive funding for projects.

Has anyone seen Elena (2011)?

>>2671 (OP)
I might give it a look seems interesting

just watched it.
i thought it was brilliant.
everything goes to hell.
evil prevails.
just like real life.

Interestingly enough, the basic story idea came from a Colorado man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Heemeyer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZbG9i1oGPA

Anyway I did think the Throne and Altar relationship came from the state of things in contemporary Russia. It's a throwback to medieval Europe in some ways.
I liked how the priest never actually said anything malicious. Often US movies would have a pastor with crazy eyes, quoting some vindictive verse from the Old Testament. Or some creepy charismatic fraud. But here the priest didn't give an evil vibe aside from his mere association with the mayor.

>>3003
Interestingly enough, previous movie that caused a shitstorm of equal proportions, Balabanov's “Cargo 200”, was largely based on Faulkner's “Sanctuary”, though authors didn't talk about it and stressed “this time, this country, this place” instead.

>>3013
That sounds interesting. Is it worth seeing?
I have not see many recent Russian films but I did enjoy Mishen and certainly Leviathan, so I'm curious what else I should watch.

I've been thinking about going and seeing this. Glad to hear its pretty good.

>>3002
Mhm. Obviously the - for instance - the manage a trois is about the nature of "love" on a very basic level. But the passionate and resteless actions found in some of the film's characters mirror the ones found in classic Russian litterature.

>>3098
> But the passionate and resteless actions found in some of the film's characters mirror the ones found in classic Russian litterature.

Care to expand a bit on this idea?
I'm a book pleb :)

>>3100
Sure, although memory doesn't serve me well. I read some of those books (idiot, karamazov, karenina and gambler) like 7 years ago, and I was just reminded and taken back by the film to some of the characters from those books. The headless actions, acting on impulse, raging with passion.. I can't remember the books well enough to give concrete examples, it's more just an impression of the Russian people those books leave with you, that, I think, is a lot like the impression left in the film. The main character, I think it's somewhat fair to call him that, reminded me of one of the brothers karamazov, mitka or something.. He's not really any good, drinks a lot, gambles (I think) and is hot-headed. The female suicide towards the end reminded me of how natashya in the idiot, how she kinda kills herself, is desired by many, but still doesn't really fit in and is plagued by a great sense of guilt. Sorry, it's such a long time ago, - best I could do.

>>3122
Quite interesting, thanks for the explanation. I can see how you'd make those connections.