22 September 2017.
FAUTE D’AMOUR (NELYUBOV /LOVELESS) **** (vo Russian)
The present state of Russian society is brilliantly exposed in this latest Andrey Zvyagintsev film, a grim but powerfully constructed tale of a destructive couple in the midst of a divorce who have no use for their poor 12-year old son. The mother is a selfish go-getter, while the father has another child on the way with his new companion.
Their lonely, desolate son ends up disappearing one day. Their handling of the search is an unflinching study of today’s condition of arid relationships. In this panorama of present-day Russia, we are immersed in all levels of society, from high to low, as though we were living there.
There are the expensive cars, apartments and restaurants along with the more modest lives, and then there is the work of the police investigators. We are witness to it all, with no punches pulled.
In the main competition of 19 films at Cannes 2017, this one was ripe for an important award since the director is well known for his excellent work, as in his films, “Le Retour” and “Leviathan” which won best scenario in Cannes 2014. This latest won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes festival.
Might one say Zvyagintsev is the new Tarkovsky, or Russia’s Scorsese?
Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Miserable – no stars
By Neptune
Neptune Ravar Ingwersen reviews film extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to 8 films a week and her aim is to sort the wheat from the chaff for readers.
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