A good film immediately transports us to another world yet ultimately reflects our own.
"Leviathan" lands us in a rocky Russian town by the Barents Sea. Early shots establish the stark setting as a watery grave, waiting to wash over the characters like the whale skeletons resting on its shores. As director Andrey Zvyagintsev explores this surreal world, he turns toward more familiar territory of love, family and what happens when we are stripped of what makes us feel secure.
The film revolves around Kolya, a hothead mechanic who lives in a generations-old waterfront house with his young, beautiful second wife and his bitter teenage son from a previous marriage. The plot thickens when the town's corrupt mayor tries to take his property — and when Kolya's lawyer and old army buddy fools around with his wife.
Zvyagintsev and co-writer Oleg Negin weave a powerful patchwork, drawing inspiration from a wealth of rich sources. The land battle by which the film is framed comes from the true story of Marvin Heemeyer — a Colorado citizen and auto-mechanic who, like Kolya, found himself embroiled in real estate issues that turned violent.
"Leviathan" also recalls the lead character of the Coen Brothers' "A Serious Man." And like that film, it ultimately draws divine inspiration, reflecting the Book of Job with its story of a man whose faith grows thin in the face of fundamental suffering. As in any Coen Brothers' film, the outlandish setting matches the absurdity of the story. As Kolya is hit with financial, marital and moral dilemmas, the murky waters and rocky terrain surrounding him grow even more evocative. And Philip Glass's booming, ominous music underscores the enormity of Kolya's issues.
The film's trailers are somewhat misleading, selling the movie as more of an energetic thriller than a solemn, slow-burn domestic drama. However, "Leviathan" is darkly dazzling all the same. It's a strange, formidable piece of work, evoking the monstrous spirit of its title.
Of course, "Leviathan" wouldn't be nearly as resonant if it didn't have such a strong cast. Aleksey Serebryakov anchors the film with his tough yet tender performance as Kolya. As his wife, Lilya, Elena Lyadova mirrors the Russian setting — crumbling under the surface of raw beauty. Vladimir Vdovichenkov is sleazy yet surprisingly sympathetic as the slick lawyer with whom she ends up having an affair. Sergey Pokhodaev effectively embodies innocence as Kolya's son while Roman Madyanov exudes arresting evil as the mayor, Vadim.
This is a dynamic, unpredictable cast of characters, none of whom are given short shrift in the suspenseful screenplay. The film is easily one of the best ensemble pieces from last year's crop of Academy Award nominees.
Nominated for 2014's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, "Leviathan" is otherworldly yet familiar, epic yet intimate. It's the rare kind of art-house family drama that demands to be seen on the big screen — the kind whose sense of dread washes over you in large waves you will feel long after the lights go up in the theater.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpawdA34HNk&w=560&h=315]