Movie previews

Cast: Aleksey Rozin, Maryana Spivek, Matvey Novikov

Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev has made a name for himself at film festivals around the world, like Cannes and Venice, for his harsh films about contemporary Russia. Whether it’s the conflict between the upper and lower classes in Elena, or the corrupt politicians of his Oscar-nominated masterpiece Leviathan, his movies provoke discussion and have proven to be controversial in his homeland.

His latest film – and his latest to receive an Oscar nomination – is

Loveless, a drama about divorcing parents Zhenya and Boris who are so self-involved within their new relationships, their jobs, and their Instagram accounts, to notice that their own son, Alexey, has gone missing.

This would be a traumatic experience for any parent, but these two parents must quickly reconcile with the prospect that Alexey won’t be coming home and that it may be their fault. A chilling and masterful exploration of an evolving Russia, Loveless is a towering achievement.