This feels like a family drama about infidelity, which it would be if it was set anywhere except Russia. In the Motherland, money and power are so inextricably bound, even CEO’s can ride on the coat-tails of the political class. Which is what happens in Minotaur.
It moves at a slow pace and lacks twists and turns but, on its way, slips in a blueprint of the Russian elite’s M.O.
As the filmmaker is currently on Putin’s ‘Most Wanted’’ list, it’s safe to assume the blueprint got it right. It’s worth a watch, for that alone.
The Story
Glem (Dimitry Mazurov) is an apolitical corporate executive. He lives on the outskirts of Moscow with his wife Galina (Iris Lebedeva) and son Seryozha (Boris Kudrun).
The family home is surrounded by woodland and nothing else. If Galina, who doesn’t work or drive, wants to go into the town, she gets a ride with Glem.
Her visits become more frequent and, when Glem gets suspicious, he hires a trusted employee to follow her. His suspicions are confirmed and Glem’s journey begins.
Putin’s War
The story takes place in 2022, a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine. In the absence of volunteers, the Kremlin issues a mandate for business leaders to select which of their employees to send to the front lines. This places a lot of power in civilian hands, and Glem has no hesitation in using it to dispose of an inconvenience in the unfolding drama with his wife. It’s a glorious moment when these plot threads blend and stroll together to the story’s dark convergence.
The Civilians
What is not included in the Kremlin’s mandate is that, If businesses don’t comply, the military will come and take whoever they want. In the first scenes at Glem’s office, the mandate has just been announced, and staff are resigning or requesting to work from home. It’s a believable and intriguing snapshot into the true Russian reaction to the war… as long as audiences know what’s going on. It’s a grave omission on the part of the filmmakers not to have ensured that this is the case.
The Marriage
In the opening scene, Galina serves dinner, whereupon Glem complains that she hasn’t made tea. When she makes the tea, he says he wants coffee. This is a toxic example of a need for control, but it also paints a picture of a tyrannical husband and downtrodden wife, which is not the case.
Glem meanders between dismissive and thoughtful. Galina is invariably dismissive and unafraid to stand her ground. Their marriage has gone cold and they exist in a silent battlefield, but no one’s getting browbeaten. In fact, from the outside, they appear to be a perfect bourgeois couple. But their camouflage evaporates the moment they step into their home. Their disintegrating relationship is played with such constraint, it shrouds itself in tension, as if they know what’s coming. It’s an effective ploy.
The Corruption
This film becomes compelling when a mirror is held to the dynamics of the Russian kleptocracy. In essence, the rule of law binds the common citizen and leaves the elite untouchable; the elite being defined solely by ruble count. So while the American President has to deal with the rigmarole of an executive order to get what he wants, all his Russian counterpart has to do is pick up the phone, The Western World has so much to answer for.
Watch the Trailer
MINOTAUR | Official Trailer | Only in Theaters This November – YouTube
Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
Written by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Simon Lyashenko & Claude Chabrol
Release
In theaters November 20th, 2026
2026
Cannes Film Festival
Grand Prize of the Festival
Produced by MK Films
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About the Director
During the closing ceremony of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, in his acceptance speech, Zvyagintsev demanded directly to Russia’s president Vladimir Putin to end “the butchery”, adding: “The only person who can stop this carnage is the President of the Russian Federation. Put an end to this slaughter; the whole world is waiting for it”
On September 18, 2026, Zvyagintsev was added to the Russian list of foreign agents.
His 2026 drama film Minotaur, was his first project filmed in exile. Production took place in Latvia in late 2025. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim and won the Grand Prix.
