Watch Elena

Elena is a 2011 Russian drama film directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev. The film stars Nadezhda Markina as Elena and Andrey Smirnov as her husband Vladimir. Aleksey Rozin plays Vladimir's estranged son, Sergey. The film tells the story of Elena, a middle-aged woman who has married a wealthy man named Vladimir. Elena and Vladimir live in a luxurious apartment in Moscow and lead very different lives. Elena is a former nurse who comes from a modest background, while Vladimir is a successful businessman who has accumulated wealth over the years. Their contrasting backgrounds make for a strained relationship, and there is little affection between them. Elena spends most of her time taking care of their apartment and visiting her adult son from a previous marriage, while Vladimir travels often for business and is distant with his wife.

Meanwhile, Elena's son Serge is struggling financially and asks his mother for help. Elena is unable to provide the amount he needs and he turns to Vladimir for help. Vladimir, however, is not willing to give his stepson a large sum of money and instead offers to help him get a job. This tension between the two families becomes more pronounced when Vladimir suffers a heart attack and Elena is faced with the decision of whether to use her savings to pay for his costly medical treatment.

The film is a slow-paced character study that explores themes of class, family dynamics, and morality. Elena is a sympathetic character who is torn between her duties to her husband and her loyalty to her son. The film portrays her struggle in a nuanced manner, and Markina's performance conveys her internal conflicts convincingly. Smirnov also delivers a noteworthy performance as the detached and unemotional Vladimir.

The film is shot in muted colors and has a subdued tone, which adds to the somber mood of the story. The visuals convey a sense of loneliness and isolation that the characters feel in their respective lives. The film also utilizes long takes to draw attention to the details of a scene and emphasize the characters' emotional state.

Elena has received critical acclaim and has won several awards, including the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. The film has also been praised for its exploration of social issues and its representation of female characters in modern-day Russia.

In conclusion, Elena is a thought-provoking film that delves into complex emotional and ethical themes. Its slow pace and subdued tone may not be for everyone, but its exploration of class, family dynamics, and morality make it a worthwhile viewing experience. The film is elevated by strong performances from Markina and Smirnov and its beautiful cinematography. Elena is a must-watch for lovers of character-driven dramas.

Elena is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 87.