Elena

Visually spare and acutely observed, Andrey Zvyagintsev's Elena tells a simple story of familial discord in today's Russia that is both starkly powerful and deeply troubling. In a quietly somber, soulful performance, Nadezhda Markina stars as Elena—the second wife of wealthy Vladimir (Andrey Smirnov)—an ex-nurse who cared for Vladimir some years earlier following surgery. Both have children from previous marriages: Vladimir is estranged from his hedonistic daughter, giving her a regular allowance but otherwise ignoring her; Elena is burdened with a layabout, heavy-drinking son, who lives with his wife and children in a rundown Soviet-era complex and depends on her for money. A crisis arises when Vladimir suffers a heart attack and drafts a will that makes his daughter the chief beneficiary, leaving Elena with a modest annual pension. After considering the effect that this would have on her ability to help her son and grandchildren, Elena decides to take preventative action. Zvyagintsev presents all of this in a matter-of-fact fashion, conveying the aridity and aimlessness of a morally comatose society in which violence and corruption lurk just below the surface. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—Aug. 25, 2015—Zeitgeist/Syncopy, 109 min., in Russian w/English subtitles, not rated, $34.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2012's Elena features a great transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include a “making-of” featurette (40 min.), an interview with director Andrey Zvyagintsev (30 min.), a featurette on the making of the poster screenprint, trailers, and a booklet. Bottom line: this excellent Russian drama sparkles on Blu-ray.]