As a person who grew up watching films made in the Soviet Union and as someone who is fully aware of the capability of Russian Cinema with right timing and filled with desire to make something wonderful. Knowing that, I am very critical about every second film that comes from the aforementioned country. In fact, I don’t remember when was the last time I had praised anything that was seen in Russia lately. But with Andrey Zvyagintsev’s LOVELESS, it was eye opening, refreshing and satisfying. It was, I must admit, a whole different level of intelligent and powerful. Yes, if those words come from me, that means Zvyagintsev did an amazing job by bringing up a masterpiece to life.
Zjenya (Maryana Spivak) and Boris (Alexey Rozin) are married but only on paper. If they could get a chance, legally though, they would have killed each other as they both can’t tolerate one another’s presence in the same room. Alyosha (Matvey Novikov) is their child who is caught in between the upcoming storm. Both parents do not want to share the responsibility, and no none of them want to take care of him after their divorce. During their vicious fights, they don’t even notice how their 12-year-old son disappears without trace. But even that moment instead of reuniting them, pushes the unfortunate couple away from each other further.
Zjenya reveals to her new partner whom she is in love with, how much she hated the idea of having Alyosha in her life. Boris also has another woman in his life who carries his child. While he is in process to find a better way to divorce his wife and not to lose his job due to the rule of the company that belongs to Union, he, the same as Zjenya, doesn’t even notice Alyosha or even if he exists. In that impatience, impulsiveness and eagerness to turn a new chapter of their life, they both lose their ground when they realize that they apparently love their disappeared son, who they successfully used as a tool to hurt each other even more.
In conclusion, it was amazing to see how well LOVELESS was handled. In one way, it was completely owned by Zvyagintsev, but on the other hand, it was Maryana Spivak and Alexey Rozin who owned the movie from inside out. Their superb performances made this film a jewel you would be afraid to wear to prevent damage. The story itself was profound, written thoughtfully and with care. And if you ask me, if you did not realize by know if LOVELESS is worth seein or not, I would say: “yes, totally”. Just don’t miss it. Because you don’t know when is the next time you will get a chance to see as great a film as this.