Elena

A Russian film set in Moscow. Elena and Vladimir are married. She was a nurse; she looked after him in hospital and they married later. Vladimir is wealthy, the flat is large and the order is settled: Elena cooks, cleans and looks after her husband. Both have children from earlier marriages. Vladimir's daughter lives independently and is cool towards her father. Elena's son lives on the edge of the city, out of work, with two children. Her grandson has to get into university; otherwise he will be conscripted. That takes money. Elena asks her husband for help. Vladimir refuses; as he sees it, that family is responsible for its own position. Then Vladimir has a heart attack. Lying in hospital he decides to write his will and says he will leave most of the estate to his daughter. Where the film goes is that decision. The narrative never raises its voice; everything happens at quiet tables, in silent corridors and on bus journeys. It is built in long takes and the music is by Philip Glass. Nadezhda Markina plays Elena and Andrey Smirnov plays Vladimir. Andrey Zvyagintsev directed. The film won a jury prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. A strong production for anyone who likes slow cinema and films about class. For a viewer wanting a likeable character, the film proves nobody right.