MovieChat Forums > Leviathan (2015) Discussion > Why all the explanations?

Why all the explanations?

posted 10 years ago by jhopp217
1 reply | jump to latest

Was there an easier film to decipher made in the last 20 years? Why are people writing these long winded explanation? I'm fine with simplistic tales, but this was brutal. Painful pace, with little payoff. We know it's the tale of Job by the name. The "symbolism" is amateurish and while I appreciate it's a bold statement in terms of a Russian film pointing the finger at its own corrupt society, the film. felt painfully American and quite familiar. It's a tired format in U.S. cinema and offered nothing fresh. I will give it huge respect for its feel. The cinematography was outstanding.

[–] Ralf1 10 years ago

Agree. The main ideas of the film were already chewed and then put into the viewer's mouth, ready to be swallowed. There is no need to dig for some kind of higher meaning or purpose. The interpretation is very simple. Russia is a country with no hope, suffering from alcoholism and corrupt government that's also intertwined with the similarly corrupted Russian Orthodox Church that will build its churches on the blood of others. Watching this movie is almost like reading an encyclopedia. The actual plot and drama were an inconsequential vehicle to make a political statement. A brave, but not very subtle film. Worth watching for the beautiful cinematography. The film was probably aimed at the west, as Russians already knew everything in it in advance.