Leviathan (2015 Best Foreign Language nominee)

MakeEmLaugh

This seems the favourite to take home the "Best Foreign Language Film" Oscar this year (it won at the Golden Globes).

It's an insightful look into rural Russian life, away from the "huge, but close-knit city" of Moscow, as represented by the handsome blow-in Dmitri, whose ingenuity as a lawyer proves no match for the brute force and corruption of the local mayor.

It was interesting to see how the constant distractions of cigarettes (there are several moments of characters stepping outside "for a smoke") and vodka are used to numb the locals, and help them endure their struggles.

I sometimes felt the religiosity was being laid on a bit thick, though the allusions to Job - from which the title is derived - did neatly dovetail with the film's overall theme of men without women, whether it's the local policeman who, we are told, "has outlived two lives", to Roma, the teenage boy who treats his stepmother with contempt.

How much contemporary Russian politics played a part in the overall film, I'm not sure. Pussy Riot are spotted briefly on a TV set, and the film's priest gives an extended monologue about those who "defile" the Russian orthodox faith. Putin's photograph is spotted on the wall of the corrupt mayor's office, though when one character produces large prints of Russian politicians such as Lenin to use as target practice, we are told that more current politicians wouldn't have "enough of a historical perspective. Let them ripen up on the wall a bit."

MakeEmLaugh

MakeEmLaugh wrote: »

The allusions to Job - from which the title is derived - did neatly dovetail with the film's overall theme of men without women, whether it's the local policeman who, we are told, "has outlived two lives", to Roma, the teenage boy who treats his stepmother with contempt.

That should read "has outlived two wives".