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Cinema is rich in films that tell the story of simple men who dash themselves against the rocks of misfortune: of impotence in the face of corrupt authority and arbitrary fate. Good men are not rewarded: justice is not done. In general, I find such tales uncomfortable viewing. In fact, I find them sadistic. You take a good man and watch him suffer for two hours with the director casting himself as the uncaring and inscrutable God of the Book of Job. So why is it that while I found the Coen Brothers' A SERIOUS MAN and INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS unappealing I was bowled over by LEVIATHAN? I suspect it's because there is no knowing, snide humour in LEVIATHAN, although it is sometimes funny in a low-key way. Consequently, rather than being outside of the movie laughing at its central character's misfortune, we are inside the movie, sympathising with him. Or maybe it's because the subject matter is so much more urgent when situated within contemporary Russia, a totalitarian kleptocracy worthy of the movie's title. At any rate, I am not alone. LEVIATHAN has garnered critical acclaim and awards wherever it has been shown. And in a brazen act of co-option is the official nomination of Russia for the Academy Awards. It's featured in many a critic's Best of 2014 list and you'll be hearing more about it as awards season gathers pace. All of this is justified.
Cinema is rich in films that tell the story of simple men who dash themselves against the rocks of misfortune: of impotence in the face of corrupt authority and arbitrary fate. Good men are not rewarded: justice is not done. In general, I find such tales uncomfortable viewing. In fact, I find them sadistic. You take a good man and watch him suffer for two hours with the director casting himself as the uncaring and inscrutable God of the Book of Job. So why is it that while I found the Coen Brothers' A SERIOUS MAN and INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS unappealing I was bowled over by LEVIATHAN? I suspect it's because there is no knowing, snide humour in LEVIATHAN, although it is sometimes funny in a low-key way. Consequently, rather than being outside of the movie laughing at its central character's misfortune, we are inside the movie, sympathising with him. Or maybe it's because the subject matter is so much more urgent when situated within contemporary Russia, a totalitarian kleptocracy worthy of the movie's title. At any rate, I am not alone. LEVIATHAN has garnered critical acclaim and awards wherever it has been shown. And in a brazen act of co-option is the official nomination of Russia for the Academy Awards. It's featured in many a critic's Best of 2014 list and you'll be hearing more about it as awards season gathers pace. All of this is justified.
