Russian Director Zvyagintsev Denounces Ukraine War ‘Carnage' at Cannes Awards
The Moscow Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev called on President Vladimir Putin to end the violence in Ukraine during his acceptance speech at the Cannes Film Festival, emphasizing the widespread desire for peace on both sides of the conflict.
- Zvyagintsev's new film "Minotaur," set during Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, won the Grand Prix award at Cannes, finishing second to Romanian director Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord."
- The film portrays a businessman grappling with personal and societal pressures amid the war, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.
- Zvyagintsev expressed shame over Russia's actions in Ukraine and acknowledged living in exile in France, noting that while the film is unlikely to be officially released in Russia, many Russians may still view it through pirated copies or VPNs.