Leviathan * * * * *

I did not quite know what to expect from this celebrated Russian film. but I had fears of some boring sprawling trans Siberian saga.  What I got was an intense drama set in a north Russian village featuring a handful of main characters.  Even though the injustice we witness could probably only reach so far in a country that it allows it  and restricts its citizens to limited recourse, one never feels as though one is looking through a window or watching an exaggerated scenario to raise our indignation.

This is a hard, bitter and tragic drama featuring characters that are flawed and self destructive.  It fearlessly exposes the putrid corruption of local government.  It seems the thing that has most people scratching their head is how did he get away with making this?  People say that Russia is much more open now: well it certainly is if Leviathan is a sample of its leniency and willingness to be globally dressed down.

But aside from the politics of having made and distributed such a film, there is the actual story and telling of it.  A more powerful, poignant and engaging drama would be hard to find. It’s about a man, Kolya, who is far from perfect: a drunkard with a short fuse, he lives with his son from his first marriage and his beautiful second wife.  He lives in a home that has has been in his family for generations.  But the local mayor (who is also a land developer) fancies Kolya’s home and land for a new project. So he forcibly acquires the property for a price that is far below it’s value.  Kolya brings in an old friend who is now a lawyer to help him fight back.  But the corruption, the stand-over tactics, the lack of redress is formidable.  Then there is the conduct of every  character, with drinking that is at first amusing then quite frightening to observe.   Another ever present character is the church and all that it has to say upon the matter with priests sprouting both great wisdom and hypocritical deceit.   As english speakers we have to read it but one never feels as though one is missing out on anything.  As for the richness of symbolism throughout this film that is a bounty in itself.  I was fascinated by recurring and powerful images that said so much.   There is no way I can do this film justice, just go see the damn thing!
(5)