Oscar Nominated Leviathan Probes Russia’s Undercurrents!

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By Alan Samuel

Make your last stand. Hold your head high.  Good intentions go out the window for a man in the ropes in Leviathan.  Life in Russia is front and centre is this tasty treat from Sony pictures Classes liable to put a thaw in Western-Soviet relations at The Fifth Avenue Cinemas.

Modern times create new problems.  Poor Nikolai seems to have the whole world going against him.  Able to blend a hot temper with practical solutions is actor Alexey Serebryakov. Number one on his hot plate is keeping his home alive.  Power politics in Moscow is common but local town bosses also hold lots of sway.  Going Up against the mayor in the region is no easy task even when legitimate property rights are at stake.

Slick and sick and ruthless is the political process presided over by the unruly oafish pig of a mayor , well depicted on screen by Roman Madyanov. How the battle between government and individual is presented in Leviathan may as well be a metaphor between the disengagement of the political elite from the poor populace.

As if this isn’t enough on Nikolai’s plate he also must contend  with an unruly son and an unpredictable wife. Smart and solid direction with a great Russian atmosphere bodes well for this 140 minute movie. Bold emotional performances and a taste for the Russian lifestyle,me arts and all, are effectively presented here which only suffers a bit from its length.

Spoken in Russian with English subtitles this is one film that may open the eyes of outsiders looking into modern life behind the former Iron Curtain.