ELENA Russia 2011 Thriller 109 min
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev Cast: Nadezhda Markina, Andrey Smirnov, Aleksey Rozin Awards: Cannes Film Festival 2011: Un Certain Regard - Special Jury Prize (Zvyagintsev) Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2011: Best Actress (Markina) Sundance Film Festival: Spotlight Official Selection
Filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev delves into the vulnerabilities of human nature with middle-aged Elena (Nadezhda Markina) and Vladimir (Andrey Smirnov), an unlikely couple coming from entirely different social settings.
The engrossing noir thriller depicts a story of loyalty and family ties with a background of class warfare in Putin’s new Russia. Vladimir is a well-off businessman; Elena a former medical worker, now a housewife. Having met later in life, they each have children from previous marriages. Elena’s son is unemployed and constantly asking her for money. Vladimir’s daughter is an entitled young woman whose contact with her father is irregular and strained. A heart attack puts Vladimir in hospital where he makes a significant decision: his daughter will be the only heiress to his wealth. The shy and submissive Elena feels betrayed and her hopes of helping her son and grandchildren secure a better life are crushed.
Beautifully shot, this is a raw and gripping story of humanity.
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Screening at Performance Space at The Dock, 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands.
