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Bookmark this pageElena (2011)
Director: Andrei Zvyagintsev
Movie review
From Time Out Online
Not as powerful as ‘The Return’ but better than ‘The Banishment’, Zvyagintsev’s latest is a fascinating study of family bonds, greed, temptation and the deadly allure of money. The titular protagonist is a former nurse in a second marriage to a rich businessman; her wastrel son wants more of the man’s financial help so that his son can buy a university place, but then Vladimir suffers a heart attack and threatens to leave most of his fortune to his hitherto estranged daughter. Torn between moral scruples, marital duty and maternal loyalty, Elena is forced to act. Sturdy performances, fine photography from Mikhail Krichman, good use of music by Philip Glass and a pleasingly terse script make for incisive, gripping drama.Author: Geoff Andrew
Time Out Online London Film Festival 2011
Cast & crew
Director: Andrei Zvyagintsev
Cast: Nadezhda Markina, Andrei Smirnov, Elena Lyadova, Alexei Rozin
Genre(s): Drama
Duration: 109 mins
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