Elena (2011):
So after initially watching "
Elena" a couple of months ago, I've always planned on revisiting it again, the exceptional cinematography alone should be a reason to return to the film multiple times, trust me, it is so pleasing to the eye. Director Andrey Zvyagintsev who's notably known for his debut feature film "
The Return", proves once again how much of an expert at his craft he is, in fact, I find "
Elena" to be his visual masterpiece, and how can I not when every single scene feels meticulously calculated. The lingering shots of quietude have an increased level of substance once there is not only purpose behind them but also beauty. If you haven't guessed already, I was pretty blown away by how phenomenal the film looked!
As for the story, I wouldn't necessarily call it complicated, on the contrary, it is very simple and easy to follow, but there is definite depth and layers under its surface. Elena lives in a luxurious apartment with her luxuriant spouse Vladimir, they lead routine urban bourgeois lives, which is the complete opposite of the life lived by Elena's son and his struggling family. Our main character is found caught in the middle of two worlds, classes and men, and she fights to balance the two opposing and incompatible branches of her life.
It seems like the
vast majority of Russian films, from what I've seen at least, love to depict this inescapable contrast between the divided classes of Russia's modern society, and this theme also appears in Zvyagintsev's 2014 film "
Leviathan". The director showcases this subject in a blunt, truthful and almost objective manner that refrains from sugar coating the reality, every character that appears on screen including the one we follow is heavily flawed, and they all contribute to a never ending cycle of corruption. On the other hand, we have Elena's innocent and oblivious newborn grandson, who is unaware of the ugliness committed around him, he may be an indication of possible hope for the next generation, or just another apple that will most likely not fall far from the tree, and grow to be a typical member who'll learn nothing but contribution to the depravity.
"
Elena", is certainly a character study, not necessarily of the main character, but more so of society and how low it is willing to go and act, just for its own selfish benefits, this is all perfectly put together and portrayed with a fantastic accompanying score by Philip Glass, the music is scattered sparingly while also hitting the perfect amount. My issues with the film are just three minor nitpicks that would seem unfair if mentioned. This happens to be my favourite entry by Zvyagintsev, who is not only currently one of my favourite modern directors, but also seems to be a promising master who's name will be stamped on cinema's history.
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