Put an end to this war’: Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev makes new plea to Putin | Cannes film festival

Acclaimed director Andrey Zvyagintsev has entered a public war of words with the Kremlin following his success at the Cannes film festival. The filmmaker, who recently won the Grand Prix for his new film Minotaur, has sent a direct message to Vladimir Putin urging an end to the “senseless” war in Ukraine.

During his acceptance speech on the French Riviera, Zvyagintsev appealed to the Russian leader to “stop this butchery,” noting that the entire world is waiting for such a move. He acknowledged that Putin was unlikely to watch the livestream and asked the president’s entourage to relay the message.

In a follow-up message sent through official channels to the president’s press secretary, the exiled auteur warned that nothing good is on the horizon if the conflict continues. He specifically cited the “massacre of young people” and the loss of limbs among citizens as the cost of an “illusory goal.”

The Kremlin’s Response

Dmitry Peskov, the longtime spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, flatly rejected the request to pass on the anti-war message. During a press briefing, Peskov stated, “I, for one, will not do it,” and expressed doubt that anyone else would comply.

Peskov argued that Zvyagintsev did not “have the right” to call for peace. This claim was based on the director’s failure to condemn the “massacre in the Donbas,” a narrative often used by Russian disinformation campaigns to justify the military campaign.

Zvyagintsev responded by stating that while he may not have a voice, neither do “a hundred million Russian citizens” whom Putin has “never heard.” He described the Kremlin’s attempt to silence critics as “hypocritical” and urged a return to the principle of hic et nunc—acting here and now to end the war.

Artistic Exile and Political Friction

The film Minotaur marks the 62-year-old director’s first project since surviving a life-threatening Covid-19 infection and moving into exile in France. The plot follows a business executive, Dmitriy Mazurov, who discovers his wife Galina is having an affair while he prepares to lay off employees to be drafted into the war effort.

Despite the film’s positive reviews, Zvyagintsev’s political appeal has met with mixed reactions. Some commentators in Ukraine suggested the director is continuing the “appeal to the tsar” tradition, where opposition figures beg for change rather than demanding it.

Critics in Ukraine also pointed out that the director’s speech appeared to place the lives of Russian soldiers on a par with those of Ukrainian civilians.

Potential Developments

As the Kremlin has not officially responded to the director’s latest message, the situation may remain a stalemate. Zvyagintsev could use his international platform to further amplify the voices of Russian citizens.

Future interactions between the filmmaker and the Russian government are likely to remain strained, and the director may continue to face criticism from various sides regarding the nature of his appeals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the plot of the film Minotaur?
Set in the fictional city of Krasnoborsk, it follows a business executive who discovers his wife is having an affair while he is on the verge of laying off employees to be drafted into the Ukraine war effort.

Why did Dmitry Peskov refuse to relay Zvyagintsev’s message?
Peskov stated that the director did not have the right to appeal for peace because he had never condemned the “massacre in the Donbas.”

What is the “appeal to the tsar” tradition mentioned in the article?
It is a tradition where Russian opposition figures beg authorities for change rather than demanding it, a point raised by some Ukrainian commentators regarding Zvyagintsev’s speech.

Do you believe that high-profile artists can influence political decisions through public appeals?