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‘Leviathan’ Gets Applause in Hollywood but Scorn at Home in Russia Russian Movie ‘Leviathan’ Gets Applause in Hollywood but Scorn at Home
(about 1 hour later)
MOSCOW — In many ways, the movie “Leviathan” is Russia’s greatest cinematic accomplishment in years, maybe decades. The Golden Globe winner this month for best foreign film, it provides an unrelenting, vodka-soaked portrait of small-town corruption that has been praised by critics and filmmakers throughout the world — everywhere, it seems, but Russia.MOSCOW — In many ways, the movie “Leviathan” is Russia’s greatest cinematic accomplishment in years, maybe decades. The Golden Globe winner this month for best foreign film, it provides an unrelenting, vodka-soaked portrait of small-town corruption that has been praised by critics and filmmakers throughout the world — everywhere, it seems, but Russia.
Well before its long-delayed general release here on Feb. 5 it has polarized the country, acclaimed by many as an accurate rendering of life in the Putin era and condemned by others as enemy-of-the-state propaganda that should be banned.Well before its long-delayed general release here on Feb. 5 it has polarized the country, acclaimed by many as an accurate rendering of life in the Putin era and condemned by others as enemy-of-the-state propaganda that should be banned.
The fact that few Russians have actually seen the film has done nothing to dampen the arguments. The national fracas is being compared to the denigration of previous significant artists who won fame abroad for their unsparing depictions of Russian life, like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Boris Pasternak.The fact that few Russians have actually seen the film has done nothing to dampen the arguments. The national fracas is being compared to the denigration of previous significant artists who won fame abroad for their unsparing depictions of Russian life, like Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Boris Pasternak.
“One of the reasons for this almost universal condemnation of ‘Leviathan’ has to do with the general situation today in Russia,” said Vladimir Posner, a veteran Russian journalist. “A great many people feel that they are being unfairly criticized, ostracized, dissed by the Western world and that they have to protect themselves.”“One of the reasons for this almost universal condemnation of ‘Leviathan’ has to do with the general situation today in Russia,” said Vladimir Posner, a veteran Russian journalist. “A great many people feel that they are being unfairly criticized, ostracized, dissed by the Western world and that they have to protect themselves.”
The Ukraine crisis only added to a sentiment brewing for years, he and others noted.The Ukraine crisis only added to a sentiment brewing for years, he and others noted.
“Anything seen as being critical of Russia in any way is automatically seen as either another Western attempt to denigrate Russia and the Orthodox Church,” Mr. Posner said, “or it’s the work of some kind of fifth column of Russia-phobes who are paid by the West to do their anti-Russian work or are simply themselves profoundly anti-Russian.”“Anything seen as being critical of Russia in any way is automatically seen as either another Western attempt to denigrate Russia and the Orthodox Church,” Mr. Posner said, “or it’s the work of some kind of fifth column of Russia-phobes who are paid by the West to do their anti-Russian work or are simply themselves profoundly anti-Russian.”
The movie follows the travails of Nikolai, a small-town auto mechanic whose life unravels as he tries to block a venal local political boss from seizing his home. Andrey Zvyagintsev, the director, has repeatedly defended his work as a universal parable, his inspirations ranging from the biblical book of Job to the violent resolution of a Colorado zoning dispute in 2004.The movie follows the travails of Nikolai, a small-town auto mechanic whose life unravels as he tries to block a venal local political boss from seizing his home. Andrey Zvyagintsev, the director, has repeatedly defended his work as a universal parable, his inspirations ranging from the biblical book of Job to the violent resolution of a Colorado zoning dispute in 2004.
The movie’s creators delayed its release in Russia, hoping that it could be seen as a work of art rather than a political statement. “Leviathan” was shown quietly in just one St. Petersburg theater last year to qualify for the Oscars.The movie’s creators delayed its release in Russia, hoping that it could be seen as a work of art rather than a political statement. “Leviathan” was shown quietly in just one St. Petersburg theater last year to qualify for the Oscars.
The controversy began last summer, after “Leviathan” won the Cannes Film Festival award for best original screenplay, the first in a string of international trophies.The controversy began last summer, after “Leviathan” won the Cannes Film Festival award for best original screenplay, the first in a string of international trophies.
Russia’s culture minister, Vladimir Medinsky, a conservative historian, led the attacks even though his ministry provided a significant portion of the movie’s budget. He acknowledged that “Leviathan” showed talented moviemaking, but said that he did not like it.Russia’s culture minister, Vladimir Medinsky, a conservative historian, led the attacks even though his ministry provided a significant portion of the movie’s budget. He acknowledged that “Leviathan” showed talented moviemaking, but said that he did not like it.
After the film won the Golden Globe on Jan. 11 — the first for Russia since “War and Peace” in 1969 — Mr. Medinsky sharply criticized its portrayal of ordinary Russians.After the film won the Golden Globe on Jan. 11 — the first for Russia since “War and Peace” in 1969 — Mr. Medinsky sharply criticized its portrayal of ordinary Russians.
“However much the authors made them swear and swig liters of vodka, that doesn’t make them real Russians. I did not recognize myself, my colleagues, acquaintances or even acquaintances of acquaintances in ’Leviathan’s’ characters,” Mr. Medinsky told the newspaper Izvestia. “Strange, but among the movie’s characters there is not a single positive one.”“However much the authors made them swear and swig liters of vodka, that doesn’t make them real Russians. I did not recognize myself, my colleagues, acquaintances or even acquaintances of acquaintances in ’Leviathan’s’ characters,” Mr. Medinsky told the newspaper Izvestia. “Strange, but among the movie’s characters there is not a single positive one.”
He implied that the director did not like Russians but instead loved “fame, red carpets and statuettes.”He implied that the director did not like Russians but instead loved “fame, red carpets and statuettes.”
His ministry then proposed guidelines that would ban movies that “defiled” the national culture.His ministry then proposed guidelines that would ban movies that “defiled” the national culture.
The basic response from members of Russia’s intelligentsia was that Mr. Medinsky sought to resurrect the fantasies of the Soviet era, when artistic endeavors that did not promote the Communist system as utopia were banned. They noted that Russia had a long tradition of artists who created gloomy masterpieces — Dostoyevsky, Chekhov and even Tolstoy.The basic response from members of Russia’s intelligentsia was that Mr. Medinsky sought to resurrect the fantasies of the Soviet era, when artistic endeavors that did not promote the Communist system as utopia were banned. They noted that Russia had a long tradition of artists who created gloomy masterpieces — Dostoyevsky, Chekhov and even Tolstoy.
The movie ignited an unusual disagreement among adherents of the Russian Orthodox Church as well, because a corrupt bishop features prominently. Some called for it to be banned.The movie ignited an unusual disagreement among adherents of the Russian Orthodox Church as well, because a corrupt bishop features prominently. Some called for it to be banned.
“ ‘Leviathan’ is a filthy libel against the Russian church and the Russian state,” Kirill Frolov, an Orthodox activist, wrote on his Facebook page, later dismissing accusations of restricting freedom as immaterial. “ ‘Leviathan’ is evil, and there is no place for evil in the cinema.”“ ‘Leviathan’ is a filthy libel against the Russian church and the Russian state,” Kirill Frolov, an Orthodox activist, wrote on his Facebook page, later dismissing accusations of restricting freedom as immaterial. “ ‘Leviathan’ is evil, and there is no place for evil in the cinema.”
Some church leaders endorsed the movie, however. Metropolitan Simon of Murmansk and Monchegorsk, the diocese where the movie was filmed, issued a statement calling it “honest.”Some church leaders endorsed the movie, however. Metropolitan Simon of Murmansk and Monchegorsk, the diocese where the movie was filmed, issued a statement calling it “honest.”
“Leviathan,” he said, raised important questions about the state of the country.“Leviathan,” he said, raised important questions about the state of the country.
The uproar extended far beyond the cultural and political elite cloistered in Moscow and St. Petersburg. A few commentators suggested that the off-screen turmoil said more about the culture wars in modern Russia than about the movie itself.The uproar extended far beyond the cultural and political elite cloistered in Moscow and St. Petersburg. A few commentators suggested that the off-screen turmoil said more about the culture wars in modern Russia than about the movie itself.
The village chief in Teriberka, population 957, where the movie was shot, panned it as not worth watching. “We are all shown as drunkards living in our own dump here,” the official, Tatiana Trubilina, was quoted as saying. But after the producers arranged a special screening in the village hall and she actually saw it, she and many residents endorsed it.The village chief in Teriberka, population 957, where the movie was shot, panned it as not worth watching. “We are all shown as drunkards living in our own dump here,” the official, Tatiana Trubilina, was quoted as saying. But after the producers arranged a special screening in the village hall and she actually saw it, she and many residents endorsed it.
Alexander Rodnyansky, one of the film’s two producers, countered that the movie highlighted the stunning natural beauty along the Barents Sea, in sharp contrast to the polluted human behavior.Alexander Rodnyansky, one of the film’s two producers, countered that the movie highlighted the stunning natural beauty along the Barents Sea, in sharp contrast to the polluted human behavior.
Critical reaction has been favorable over all, with many reviews calling it both a universal parable about the crushing power of authority and an accurate reflection of today’s Russia.Critical reaction has been favorable over all, with many reviews calling it both a universal parable about the crushing power of authority and an accurate reflection of today’s Russia.
Daniel Dondurei, the dean of Russian film critics, said he could not remember such a ruckus over a movie since the 1988 release of “Little Vera,” the first Soviet film to show explicit sex.Daniel Dondurei, the dean of Russian film critics, said he could not remember such a ruckus over a movie since the 1988 release of “Little Vera,” the first Soviet film to show explicit sex.
“I don’t think it is a masterpiece, but it is a very important movie for Russia,” he said of “Leviathan” in an interview. “If you thought life in Russia was horrible before you saw it, it is three times worse than you imagined.”“I don’t think it is a masterpiece, but it is a very important movie for Russia,” he said of “Leviathan” in an interview. “If you thought life in Russia was horrible before you saw it, it is three times worse than you imagined.”
Those in authority or close to it commented in droves.Those in authority or close to it commented in droves.
Yevgeny Roizman, the mayor of Yekaterinburg and a rare independent politician — a status that has made him the target of endless government investigations — wrote on his Facebook page that the movie reflected both a knowledge of ordinary Russia and a love and anguish for the motherland.Yevgeny Roizman, the mayor of Yekaterinburg and a rare independent politician — a status that has made him the target of endless government investigations — wrote on his Facebook page that the movie reflected both a knowledge of ordinary Russia and a love and anguish for the motherland.
Many, but not all, government supporters had exactly the opposite reaction.Many, but not all, government supporters had exactly the opposite reaction.
Sergei Markov, a frequent Kremlin defender, accused the director of acting under Western orders to create an “anti-Putin” manifesto, a reference to President Vladimir V. Putin.Sergei Markov, a frequent Kremlin defender, accused the director of acting under Western orders to create an “anti-Putin” manifesto, a reference to President Vladimir V. Putin.
“This is a movie of a new Cold War of the West against Russia,” he wrote on Facebook. “It is not a Russian movie that gets prizes at festivals, but an anti-Russian one.”“This is a movie of a new Cold War of the West against Russia,” he wrote on Facebook. “It is not a Russian movie that gets prizes at festivals, but an anti-Russian one.”
Illegal downloads off the web swelled on the day of the Golden Globes — 30,000 in the first 24 hours, the producer said, and have been growing ever since.Illegal downloads off the web swelled on the day of the Golden Globes — 30,000 in the first 24 hours, the producer said, and have been growing ever since.
Since most swear words will be muted in theaters under a new Russian law, the number of downloads will probably escalate. Slava Smirnov, an information technology specialist who loved the movie, decided that the outpouring might support a new model for funding. So he set up a website suggesting that viewers donate the roughly $3 price of a movie ticket. The site has attracted about 100,000 rubles daily, or more than $1,500, and is about to hit the one million ruble mark. Mr. Rodnyansky said the money would go to charity.Since most swear words will be muted in theaters under a new Russian law, the number of downloads will probably escalate. Slava Smirnov, an information technology specialist who loved the movie, decided that the outpouring might support a new model for funding. So he set up a website suggesting that viewers donate the roughly $3 price of a movie ticket. The site has attracted about 100,000 rubles daily, or more than $1,500, and is about to hit the one million ruble mark. Mr. Rodnyansky said the money would go to charity.
The clamor means many Russians are eagerly anticipating the Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 22. Russia has not won the award for best foreign-language film since 1994, with “Burnt by the Sun,” a Nikita Mikhalkov drama set in the Stalinist era.The clamor means many Russians are eagerly anticipating the Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 22. Russia has not won the award for best foreign-language film since 1994, with “Burnt by the Sun,” a Nikita Mikhalkov drama set in the Stalinist era.
So far not a single official has so much as offered congratulations on Twitter to Mr. Zvyagintsev, the director, for the movie’s many awards, an unprecedented snub in recent years.So far not a single official has so much as offered congratulations on Twitter to Mr. Zvyagintsev, the director, for the movie’s many awards, an unprecedented snub in recent years.
“Leviathan” would be a tough film for the government to later rally behind, given its unforgiving focus on the centralization of power and the role of Orthodoxy, twin pillars of Mr. Putin’s rule.“Leviathan” would be a tough film for the government to later rally behind, given its unforgiving focus on the centralization of power and the role of Orthodoxy, twin pillars of Mr. Putin’s rule.
However, many in cultural circles expect that if the movie does win an Oscar, the Kremlin will find a way to embrace it as a collective achievement.However, many in cultural circles expect that if the movie does win an Oscar, the Kremlin will find a way to embrace it as a collective achievement.
“They didn’t want a national discussion because in the end it will turn out that the most famous movie outside Russia is oppositional,” said Mr. Dondurei, the film critic. “If it wins the Oscar, that will change because it will be for the glory of Russia.”“They didn’t want a national discussion because in the end it will turn out that the most famous movie outside Russia is oppositional,” said Mr. Dondurei, the film critic. “If it wins the Oscar, that will change because it will be for the glory of Russia.”