A few fascinating moments, swallowed up by a lot of meaningless and ineffective creative decisions.

A fine acting, directing and storytelling. A story about the sacrifices a mum/woman can do. Tells also a good picture of modern Russian lifestyle. How divided it is in today's Russia. Opens easier for people who knows more about it.

Great acting throughout but I felt that the story, while based on a strong premise, didn't manage to go anywhere satisfying enough. It felt like the film could have been longer to tie up some loose ends.

No Zviaginstsev in this.

it is a russian story. it is the first political film of zvyagintsev. i like it. minimal, non-provocative but intense

tight-lipped, defiantly sticky dissection of a country at a crossroads.

A lovely film, opens slowly and with a deliberate measure that doesn't let up for the whole film. Phillip Glass' sparse use of sound compliments the mood. There aren't any rushed moments to force issues or the omnipotent moralising that becomes the scourge of many Hollywood efforts. This is just life. A sublime story gradually unfolding.

Exquisite visual style imbues this thriller with frustration, dread, and a set of questions that linger long after its conclusion. Zvyagintsev seems to have a knack for composition, tracking shots, and editing to a certain rhythm, as the film quietly and formally gains momentum during its run time. Also, the director is once again drawn to material dealing with family strife, though this time the family shares the space with a hard and incisive look at social class in the new Russia.

08 Ekim 2011, filmekimi & Elena hakkinda sayfalarca yazabilirim. Kapital duzen hakknda oldukca saglam bir hikaye.Ustune dusunulup, tartisilmayi hakediyor. Film, bir gun isiklarin kesilecegi, gecmisteki curumuslugumuzun vicdanimza dokunacagi ve kaskati kalacagimz gunlerin habercisi. Elena'daki en masum sayilabilecek karakter, bir cumlesiyle butun durumu ozetliyordu:'insanin para icin yapamayacagi sey yoktur.'

Sehir hayatinda muhit ve gorgu farkinin, erdemlilik, tanri inanci, durustluk gibi mefhumlarla birlikte kurgulandigi film. Bireyin ahlaki tutumunun (erdem, vefa, adalet v.s.) dindarliktan öte daha oncul ve sahici olmasi gerektigi, bu farkindaligin egitimli ve egitimsiz insan modellemesiyle beraber sehrin semtlere gore tabakalastirilmasi (kavgalasan - futbol oynayan gencler, camdan dısari tukuren baba-ogul, sakin muhit - fabrikalarin kenarindaki muhit) anlitimina sahip guzel film.

Lower-class ennui is sharply examined by Zvyagintsev, his indifference however towards their greed filled hearts and favorable outlook felt like witnessing a crime going unpunished. Somewhere in between those two poles, the movie lost me; Then again, he never really does it for me. To give you an idea, the film opens with a 60 second shot of a bird atop a tree branch. That's right, 1440 frames are wasted on a fucking branch.

I am not entierly sure of where I have this movie. I loved everything until she decided to murder her husband; then it turned into something different. at first I gorged on every scene, sucked it all in and thoroughly enjoyed the spot on acting, the great use of soundtrack and the modern but not overdone camera work. second part was more of a get-through-experience, though.