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Leviathan
Левиафан
2014 141 min Russia R 18+
★8.2
Drama, Crime
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Trailers
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Description
In a Russian coastal town, Kolya is forced to fight the corrupt mayor when he is told that his house will be demolished. He recruits a lawyer friend to help, but the man's arrival brings further misfortune for Kolya and his family.
Budget:
$4M
US Gross:
$1.09M
Worldwide:
$4.4M
Starring
Aleksey Serebryakov
Actor
Elena Lyadova
Actor
Roman Madyanov
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2015
— Best International Feature Film
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Actress
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Director
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Actress
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Actor
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Director
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Actress
European Film Awards 2014
— Best Actor
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 2015
— Best International Feature Film
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Screenplay
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Supporting Actor
Cannes Film Festival 2014
— Palme d'Or
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Actor
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Director
Cannes Film Festival 2014
— Best Screenplay
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Film Editing
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Screenplay
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Cinematography
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 2015
— Best International Feature Film
Georges Awards 2016
— Best Russian Drama
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Sound
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Production Design
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Production Design
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Sound
European Film Awards 2015
— Audience Award
Goya Awards 2016
— Best European Film
Golden Eagle 2015
— Best Cinematography
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Supporting Actor
Nika Awards 2015
— Best Picture
European Film Awards 2014
— Best Picture
Key opinion
Leviathan is a highly polarizing piece of contemporary Russian cinema, widely praised by critics for its technical mastery and philosophical depth while drawing sharp criticism from those who perceive it as a cynical, stereotypical, and politically motivated performance. Viewers remain deeply divided over whether the film offers a profound diagnosis of national rot or merely a manufactured, Western-facing caricature of Russian life.
| Cinematography | The cinematography uses haunting Arctic landscapes and cold, detailed framing to create a powerful, immersive visual atmosphere. | |
| Acting | Roman Madyanov’s nuanced performance as the corrupt mayor avoids one-dimensional villainy, grounding the film's conflict in believable human ambition. | |
| Originality | Opinions on the film's realism are polarized: proponents see a stark, honest diagnosis of systemic corruption, while detractors dismiss it as a collection of artificial, state-sponsored tropes designed to court Western awards. | |
| Emotion | The film’s tone is a subject of intense disagreement; some find the relentless bleakness and heavy symbolism profound and philosophical, while others feel it is forced, nihilistic, and lacking in genuine emotional resonance. | |
| Acting | The performances of the lead actors are a point of contention, with some viewers praising the cast’s ability to embody complex archetypes, while others feel the characters are reduced to caricatures that lack internal depth. |