Elena

Elena (the outstanding Nadezhda Markina) is a timid, submissive housewife of humble origins. In contrast, her husband Vladimir, whom she married late in life, is very well off. When Vladimir becomes ill and the financial security of her son and grandson is left hanging in the balance, Elena decides to take action. As in his previous work, the celebrated Russian director’s third film forces the viewer to reflect upon issues of life and death. Zvyagintsev says of Elena: “Deep within, every human being is desperately alone. Loneliness is the beginning and the end, the leitmotif which threads its way through the life of every person.” The movie’s visual side was entrusted to the director’s regular cinematographer Mikhail Krichman, whose intriguing, carefully composed shots, together with Philip Glass’s unsettling music, make for a rewarding experience for the audience. The film rounded off the Cannes Un Certain Regard programme this year, winning its Special Jury Prize.