Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur: A Hitchcockian Portrait of Power and Betrayal in Modern Russia

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After a health crisis and a stalled project, director Andrey Zvyagintsev returned with a searing political thriller. Minotaur, a multinational co-production, explores the crumbling life of a Russian executive against the backdrop of the Russo-Ukrainian war. It has already secured universal acclaim, a Cannes Grand Prix, and an Oscar nomination.

Minotaur, released in 2026, marks a significant return for director Andrey Zvyagintsev. Following a severe battle with COVID-19 and the cancellation of a previous project regarding a Russian oligarch, Zvyagintsev relocated from Moscow to France in 2022. By early 2025, he shifted his focus to a new script centered on the privileged elite, eventually drawing inspiration from Claude Chabrol’s 1969 film, The Unfaithful Wife.

The film follows Gleb, a business executive played by Dmitriy Mazurov, whose life unravels when he discovers his wife Galina’s infidelity while simultaneously managing layoffs at his company. Set in a provincial Russian town in 2022, the narrative serves as a tense, Hitchcockian examination of contemporary Russian society. Production took place in Riga, Latvia, between September and November 2025, reuniting Zvyagintsev with his longtime creative team, including cinematographer Mikhail Krichman.

The project’s reception has been overwhelmingly positive. At the 79th Cannes Film Festival in May 2026, it earned the Grand Prix and the Cannes Soundtrack Award. Critics have praised the film’s technical precision and performances, with Metacritic awarding it a score of 91 out of 100. Beyond its festival success, Minotaur was selected as the official French entry for the 99th Academy Awards, cementing its status as a major cinematic achievement of the year.

The film’s distribution reflects its international scope, with Mubi acquiring rights for several major markets, including North America and the UK. While the film is a co-production involving France, Latvia, and Germany, its thematic weight remains firmly rooted in the complexities of the Russian experience. As noted by the jury at the 73rd Sydney Film Festival, the work stands as a powerful, cinematic chronicle of a nation in flux.

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