Monday, July 30, 2012

ELENA



I love foreign language films. What I enjoy the most is the diversity; learning something new about another country, culture and their people. Also, you often realise behind the differences of culture that the people are not unlike yourself. I always go into foreign films with my mind wide open and ready to discover.

Elena was no exception, a slow moving character piece by Russian director, Andrey Zvyagintsev, bleakly set in his country.

Elena is married to Vladimir who is older, demanding and cold. It is their second marriage and they each have adult children from previous marriages. Elena's son is struggling and has a family to look after, and she manages to take money to them, even though her husband does not approve. Vladimir is estranged from his daughter, but an illness brings them together again. Elena can see the inheritance, that she had hoped would give her family a better life, disappearing. She decides to take matters into her own hands. The misery and bleakness turns even darker, but you feel for Elena and her situation.

Ultimately Elena is a sympathetic character, but you will question her morality...or maybe not! This is what I like about these types of films, they leave you thinking long after the credits have rolled.

Elena is not a comedy, it is a serious drama, and the tone and direction depict this perfectly. It has a slow, seemingly mundane pace that fits with the life the characters are leading. The pace gives you time to consider what is not explained within the film, there is not a lot of detail to their back stories, you need to read between the lines. This is not a failing of the film, indeed it makes it more interesting...you do have to use your brain.

Elena is not for everyone, it is subtitled, dark and very dramatic. However, if you do like to delve into the lives of other people and cultures, or like to think about certain aspects of life, you will appreciate this film as I did.

Bravo to The Tower Cinemas for showing us the myriad of cultures this world has to offer through their superb foreign film selection.

1 comment:

Any more adhesive? said...

Sounds like another movie worth seeing - the list is growing!