2 out of 4. (C)

I'm really troubled by this one. On the one hand I admire the hell out of both Nadezhda Markina's quietly heartbreaking performance, unquestionably among the best of the year, and director Andrei Zvyagintsev's clear empathy for the titular woman, slave to the whims of two equally boorish and self-important men (her wealthy husband and poor adult son, respectively). But there's a pointed class division to the relationships in "Elena," and one with some dubious implications. Zvyagintsev insinuates--through several episodes of guilt and violence near the film's end, as well as an austere style and score that only belabor the mounting menace--that the underprivileged would be better served if left to their own devices, that any good will afforded them won't improve their lives. And the symmetry of the film's two bookending shots seems to only underscore that deep cynicism.

Ίσως το πιο εντυπωσιακό στον Σβιάγκιντσεφ είναι ότι παρόλο που οι μικρές του ιστορίες συμβολίζουν μεγάλα πράγματα, οι χαρακτήρες του δεν είναι απλά σύμβολα, είναι ζωντανοί καταλαβαίνεις ποιοι είναι, την ιστορία τους και τα διλήμματα τους. Ακόμα και αν το ζητούμενο είναι η αναγωγή στην κοινωνική ανισότητα που ξυπνάει ανθρωποφαγα ένστικτα και διαλύει προφάσεις ηθικής γιατί κατά βάση είμαστε όσο πολιτισμένοι μας επιβάλλουν οι κοινωνικοί κανόνες να είμαστε, η ταινία λειτουργεί τελεία και ως συναρπαστικό existential thriller για το που μπορείς να φτάσεις για την επιβίωση. Πολύ μεγάλος σκηνοθέτης εν τέλει. Φοβερή και η Μάρκινα.

A Mitt Romney nightmare directed by a very austere Hitchcock.

A metaphor, if I may: This film was like watching the burning of a slow fuse. I became so transfixed on the journey of the spark that by the time the flame reached the dynamite I barely heard the boom.

A slight but beautiful film. I feel like it deserves praise just for having the audacity to take what is essentially a 30 minute script and turn it in to a 2 hour piece of cinematic art. The composition of every frame is a marvel and elevates this film above others of its kind but still I would have preferred a deeper emotional resonance.

A slight but beautiful film. I feel like it deserves praise just for having the audacity to take what is essentially a 30 minute script and turn it in to a 2 hour piece of cinematic art. The composition of every frame is a marvel and elevates this film above others of its kind but still I would have preferred a deeper emotional resonance.

Pulsating, fastidious ice-cold noir & dissection of Russian society, elegantly camouflaged beneath surface of glacial mundanity

Around the world in May-ty days: Russia.

Needs a second watch and deserves one too.
Elena was engrossing.

30 Countries in 30 Days Film #2 - Russia

A slow burn through and through, but a very powerful and very interesting portrayal of marriage, family, and the social life through well-defined characters. Excellent at letting small actions drive a much bigger plot.

It's remarkable how such shocking things happen in this film and yet the audience is kept so completely detached from it all. You, the viewer, are not drawn into the plot, you are an observer. And I think that's what works best about this film.

The characters on their own are not very interesting at all. It's the relationships that unfold between each of the characters that is what engages viewers. The plot is very slow and drawn out, and ultimately feels like a joke without a punchline, but at the same time it's just intriguing enough that you can't look away.

This, coupled with some brilliant direction, great performances and entrancing cinematography, makes for a surprisingly enjoyable film.

Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev ('The Return') and soundtracked with a singular Philip Glass symphony, 'Elena' is a slow burning drama that follows the devilish actions a shallow mind commits in order to solve a family predicament.
Its effective use of narrative space gives an insight into the mundanity of the characters lives, allows emotional situations to be realised, and allows it's multiple themes to be reflected upon.

Gorda hija de puta traicionera.