LEVIATHAN (2014) - Official HD Trailer - A film by Andrey Zvyagintsev

© Palace Films 2014

The stunning new film from modern Russian master Andrey Zvyagintsev (The Return, Elena), LEVIATHAN is a gripping parable of class, faith and corruption, centering on a land dispute between a small-time mechanic and his local authorities that reaps unimaginable consequences.

Kolia (the magnetic Alexey Serebryakov) lives in a coastal village near the Barents Sea in Northern Russia, running an auto-repair shop from the garage of his childhood home, shared with young wife Lilya (Elena Lyadova) and his teenage son from a previous marriage.
The family’s world is under threat: Vadim Sergeyich (Roman Madyanov), the imperious town Mayor, has slapped a compulsory acquisition order on Kolia’s prime land, earmarking the site for a development of undetermined but dubious funding (and offering risible, token compensation). To Sergeyich’s great surprise, Kolia enlists the help of ex-army friend Dmitri (Vladimir Vdovitchenkov), now a hotshot lawyer from Moscow. Dmitri has uncovered some highly incriminating evidence that he believes will force the Mayor to back down, even if he has secrets of his own. Soon tempers and passions are inflamed, events spiral out of control, and lives are placed at stake.

Zvyagintsev’s deftly-drawn and morally complex thriller is an electrifying, vodka-fuelled examination of the familial, sexual and judicial tangles of ordinary human lives, played out against the monstrous machinations of Putin’s seemingly unchecked regime. Saturated with incredible imagery, superb performances and sly, Kafkaesque humour, this astounding and frequently surprising masterwork should, quite simply, not be missed.

[vinylcatcher]

All of the blind patriots diss the movie, ignoring the fact that is it based on stories of universal evil, one you can encunter virtually everywhere. Not only Eastern Europeans can associate themselves with the story and the characters, in addition the production value and quality is superb, a contribution to the Russian art archive.  

[jvh]

One of the best films I have ever seen in my life. Period. This ranks highly amid the likes of Tarkovsky and Tsai Ming-Liang.

[MrHeisenberg]

I'm from Russia and this movie is sad but true. Don't pay any attention to trolls who are given 16 roubles for every comment by Mr.Putin and FSB and who try to persuade everyone here that corruption in Russia doesn't exist or some other bullshit like this.

Leviathan is a very Russian film truly describing econimic inequality, social problems, corruption as well as a tragedy of the musterious Russian soul

[springhillgolfer]

I hope it will come to Netflix so I can watch it in my 21st century peasant hovel while eating my prole porridge.  

[CaseyMeeko]

please consider that the film is based on the american incident, happened when a man built a huge truck and hammered all small city and killed himself, demonstrating desperation in war with government. It doesn't matter where it is - the idea of evil power and government is universal. So please don't say it is only Russia's environment

[Alexander-pvvy]

Truly a beautiful movie. Long but dont let the duration discourage you, hours fly when you are watching such an astonishing movie. I hope this will win an Oscar even though Tangerines is a close competitor. 

[Oldoy]

Great film. Dark, brooding, sinister. Excellent cinematography, and a suitably depressing ending.

[AdamKlocperk]

This was an incredible movie, I highly recommend it to everyone.

The soundtrack in particular was very strong, anyone know if it's available anywhere? Thanks!

[rougewillow]

Out all others, this film is a masterpiece. It's a challange for an audience, wich is really rare these days. MUST SEE FILM

[SuspiciouslyDLicious]

Finally a movie with a plot that's not a slave to style and noise; a movie with humanity in the most inhumane of times.

[moldova]

the kind of movie that knocks you out for a couple of hours because of too much truth and beauty

[CharlotteFairbanks]

I guess there are many ignoramus commentators here or maybe they are writing just to degrade the movie.

1) The movie Killdozer released in 1974 was a science fiction production which a Caterpillar D9 gets revived and turns out to be the killer of men around. It was about the aliens, space, meteors and imaginary machine terror.

2) Levithan is a philosophical book of Thomas Hobbes which he had written in 1651. He was a famous English philosopher of his era when Britain was passing through a civil war. He made assumptions in the book how the society should be to achieve a powerful state authority.

So, this movie is incomparable to any literature or movie published or released in the past.

It is a unique masterpiece and all we have to do is stand up and applause the movie director loudly. It reflects the corrupted Russia completely and with Archbishop and the Church it reminds us how the story actually is a worlwide common problem of all nations.

The missing part in the movie is the political leg of this corruption which all Russian governmental and legal institutions are involved in this human rights' tragedy.

And obviously, that's because the director was scared of the reaction of the current ruling elite of Russia. Don't forget that Russia is a country where an opponent can be exterminated in minutes.

[vincelunceford]

growing up in Beijing, i actually made a few friends from Russia. those are some good people with some dry sense of humor lol. so i've always felt this connection with them cause we all have so many complaints against each government of our own. though we all put up with it to avoid bigger problem.
I honestly felt like a Russian for one second while watching this film, and I wonder when will all this be just a dinner joke and real change can be brought about

[johnpouliot]

I just saw it today in Columbus, Ohio. Really enjoyed it! Great photography. Since it is in subtitles it probably won't get too far here in the states, which is a shame. Good movie!

[noordatandoor]

I can relate.. it doesn't matter that this is Russia.. it could be any country in the world.. its fucking brilliant.. for the first time i felt a movie was like a novel.. deep, intricate.. and the title.. leviathan.. oh this film is on so many levels.. i had no idea Russian Cinema was this good..

[DCI-Frank-Burnside]

It's one of those films that matures with repeat viewings. The first time I saw it was at a crowded little art house cinema and it was rather a chore to get through. The second viewing was enjoyable and the third I was gripped. It plays out like a series of beautiful still lives, there are very few tracking shots if I remember correctly, most shots are steady and lingering. This style, at least after the first viewing, helps immerse you in the drama and helps move you sense the grander operatic of the film.

[CouveTJ]

Anyone who thinks this movie sucks does not have a very good taste in movies or can't stand subtitles. Either way, this movie is for intelligent people with good taste in film.

[lorenzocibrario]

amazing. I saw it at the london film festival and it was superb

[panamahub]

One of the greatest movie of all times.

[khariton]

It is so funny to see russians trying to protect Putin. Leviathan is the one of the greatest films for last 10-15 years.