USA-FILE-LEVIATHAN Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev says his film Leviathan is a universal story

Record ID: 858753

  • Title: USA-FILE-LEVIATHAN Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev says his film Leviathan is a universal story
  • Date: 5th November 2014
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 05, 2014) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ANDREY ZVYAGINTSEV, DIRECTOR, SAYING: "You are making a movie for people to watch and if they have the reactions you expect -if they feel the same way about it that I feel about it. So of course I am very glad that I can do something good. After all you don't make the movie entirely for yourself you make it for the people to enjoy and if they enjoy and appreciate it and they are grateful of course it's a great joy."
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2014 12:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVAE0TMXV9HKN7XSCME7RKVYTMHU
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  • Story Text: Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev is taking the good with the bad as the media blitz for his critical acclaimed film "Leviathan" builds.
    "So you go into production, you make a film, you go into the last period and you feel so relived and then the unpleasant part begins," he said with a smile, referring to the endless interviews.
    "Leviathan" stars Aleksei Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova and Vladimir Vdovichenkov and tells the story of political corruption, love and tragedy. In the film the lead character fights the government from illegally taking his home, business and land.
    Zvyagintsev and co-screen writer Oleg Negin found inspiration from several books including the Book of Job in the Bible and a true story.
    "So a part from works of literature that inspired our story it was the actually story that happened in a small town in Colorado ten years ago. And it was a common man who had a dispute with the government, administration with the court system. And that story ended tragically with him committing suicide. But before that he was really doing something to really demonstrate his protest. This was the story what encouraged us to make ours," said Zvyagintsev.
    As the film prepares for its U.S. debut the film maker hopes American audiences will see the universal message.
    "American audiences will view it as a story that happens somewhere out there no matter how universal it is. But I think a Russian audience will watch it as hopefully a universal story but also it is the story of their everyday life."
    Since the film's release it has won the best screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival and nominated for the coveted Palme d'Or and was part of the official selections at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals.
    Early this year the movie was named Russia's official selection for the 87th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. For Zvyagintsev, who has only 4 full length feature films to his credit, called the acclaim gratifying.
    "You are making a movie for people to watch and if they have the reactions you expect -if they feel the same way about it that I feel about it. So of course I am very glad that I can do something good. After all you don't make the movie entirely for yourself you make it for the people to enjoy and if they enjoy and appreciate it and they are grateful of course it's a great joy," he said.
    And as for the Oscar consideration, Zvyagintsev isn't letting it go to his head.
    "I give everything into the hands of fate. So if it happens it happens, if it doesn't it won't."
    "Leviathan" is set for release in the U.S. on December 31st.
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