Film chosen for Oscar submission

Minotaure, a Russian film directed by Andreï Zviaguintsev, has been selected by the CNC to represent France in the race for the Oscars. The film is a free adaptation of La Femme infidèle, a cult work by Claude Chabrol, and is set in Russia in 2022, during the outbreak of war and increasing mobilization.

Plot follows a man’s discovery of infidelity

The story follows Gleb, a successful business leader living with his wife Galina and their son in a provincial city, who becomes convinced his wife is having an affair. Through a private detective, he discovers the identity of her lover, a photographer named Anton, and faces the dilemma of what to do with this knowledge.

Themes link personal and political collapse

The film portrays the disintegration of Gleb's marriage and the broader geopolitical situation, drawing parallels between the personal and political collapse. According to Zviaguintsev, the invasion of Ukraine has shattered the belief in eternal peace, a theme reflected in the film through the backdrop of war, mobilization, and the threat of violence.

Characters reflect internal conflict and societal pressure

Gleb, portrayed by Dmitriy Mazurov, is depicted as a cold, rational man who makes decisions mechanically, as if his life is governed by parameters that must not be disrupted. His reaction to discovering his wife's infidelity is marked by a closed expression and a sense of worry, though he does not confront her. His wife, Galina, played by Iris Lebedeva, is described as gentle but assertive, trapped in her role as a housewife, and her unfaithfulness does not seem to be accompanied by remorse.

Title references Greek mythology

The film's title, Minotaure, draws from Greek mythology, where the creature is half-man, half-bull, trapped in a labyrinth. Zviaguintsev suggests that the film's main character, like the mythological creature, contains both animal violence and human reason and sensitivity. The director emphasizes that the film's truth, fullness, and the courage of its gaze on the myth are more important than assigning specific characters to roles in the myth.

Film explores personal and political collapse

Minotaure explores the trajectory of a man facing the collapse of his marriage and his country, intertwining personal and political narratives. The film is available in cinemas from October 14.