(MENAFN- Arab Times) MOSCOW Jan 13 (Agencies): Russian drama 'Leviathan' made history by becoming the first film from the country to win a Golden Globe since the fall of the USSR but has still not been released at home. The film a harrowing drama assailing abuse of power in today's Russia won the prestigious best foreign language film award in Hollywood on Sunday but has been held back across Russia after officially falling foul of a controversial law banning swearing.
One of the film's producers told AFP Monday that the picture set finally for release in Russia on Feb 5 after first hitting screens in France back in September and the UK in November was 'not easy' to distribute in its home country. 'It is a film about Russia that is tragic and lucid and it is not easy for distribution even if it rests on the pillars of Russian culture from Boris Pasternak in literature to Andrei Tarkovsky in cinema' said producer Alexander Rodnyansky. Leviathan has already won the best screenplay prize at the Cannes film festival for writer and director Andrei Zvyagintsev whose previous works include the acclaimed 2003 drama 'The Return'. Highly anticipated in Russia where it has been put forward by industry insiders as the country's entrant for the Oscars the film's release has been held up while the film was reworked to conform to a law passed last year that bans swearing in films. Due to the number of swearwords in the gritty production the film has had to completely redo its soundtrack. Producer Rodnyansky told AFP that the win at the glitzy Golden Globes event 'will help to attract more Russian viewers who are the target audience.' Delay Despite the delay Russians on social media sites noted Monday that many in the country have already succeeded in viewing the uncensored version of the film online. Seen by some as a searing indictment of President Vladimir Putin Russia's the film which was part funded by the state has previously drawn criticism from Russia's Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky. The Kremlin keeps a tight rein on information in Russia controling most of the news media and increasingly online activities. Criticism of Putin is extremely rarely aired. But director Zvyagintsev has played down allegations that authorities blocked the film due its subject matter saying that the production's intention was 'certainly not to confront power.' On Monday Medinsky praised the film's director for his 'professional skill' and highlighted the roughly 500000 euros ($590000) of state backing that had gone into making the movie. Also: LOS ANGELES: The Alliance of Women Film Journalists has awarded its Eda best film honor to 'Boyhood' with Richard Linklater winning best director. 'Birdman' won best original screenplay while 'Gone Girl' took the adapted screenplay honor. Voted on by film critics and writers AWFJ's annual awards include a number of offbeat categories: Scarlett Johansson won the best depiction of nudity sexuality or seduction for 'Under the Skin' while Swinton took a second award for the actress who defies age and ageism. Cameron Diaz was named the actress most in need of a new agent for her role in 'Sex Tape' while 'Inherent Vice' was voted the movie the members most wanted to love but couldn't. The award for 'most egregious age difference between the leading man and the love interest' went to Woody Allen's 'Magic in the Moonlight' starring Colin Firth and Emma Stone with a 28-year age difference. Laura Poitras' 'Citizenfour' won best documentary and best animated movie went to 'The Lego Movie.' Actress awards went to Julianne Moore for 'Still Alice' and Tilda Swinton for 'Snowpiercer' for supporting while Michael Keaton won best actor for 'Birdman' and J.K. Simmons took supporting for 'Whiplash.' The best ensemble cast award was a tie between 'Birdman' and 'The Grand Budapest Hotel.' LOS ANGELES: Benoit Jacquot's 'Three Hearts' Abderrahmane Sissako's 'Timbuktu' and Eric Lartigau's 'La Famille Belier' are part of the eclectic mix of movies set to compete at the Lumiere awards the French equivalent to the Golden Globes. A love triangle drama 'Three Hearts' which opened in Venice stars Charlotte Gainsbourg and Chiara Mastroianni as two sisters who fall in love with the same man. Pic marks Jacquot's follow-up to 'Farewell My Queen.' His next movie 'Diary of a Chambermaid' is expected to open in Berlin. A politically engaged and aesthetically pleasing movie 'Timbuktu' chronicles the lives of several Malians facing Jihadist occupation in their region. Mauritania's first foreign-language Oscar candidate 'Timbuktu' has been shortlisted. Sissako was also nominated in the director category. Set in the French provinces 'La Famille Belier' the only truly popular movie competing for best film is a dramedy centering on a teenager brought up with deaf parents and a younger brother who discovers a singing talent. LOS ANGELES: With two major wins at the Golden Globes Amazon Studios is now a contender in Hollywood. The digital network earned its bona fides as a competitive force in TV by landing trophies for best comedy for its critically praised 'Transparent' and best actor for series star Jeffrey Tambor. Like its SVOD rival Netflix Amazon has been surprisingly quick to field awards-bait fare. The e-commerce giant only ramped up its original programming activities in late 2013 with the launch of comedies 'Alpha House' and 'Betas.' 'Transparent' which bowed as a series in September after its pilot debuted in February has been the most talked-about and critically praised entry from Amazon so far. Tambor's no-holds-barred portrayal of a transgender person ensured the show would get attention at a time when transgender issues are gaining prominence in mainstream media. Nonetheless 'Transparent's' win surprised awards prognosticators as it edged out higher-profile contenders: Netflix's 'Orange is the New Black' HBO's 'Silicon Valley' and 'Girls' and the CW's 'Jane the Virgin.' Not only was it Amazon's first-ever Golden Globe award 'Transparent' also became the first online show to ever win a top series prize comedy or drama at the annual fete.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.