Andrey Zvyagintsev's 'Leviathan' wins best script prize in Cannes

The film "Leviathan" has won the best script award at the 67th Cannes international film festival, the Voice of Russia reports.

“Leviathan” is a tragic drama about a man, Nikolai, who lives in the Russian north. He and his father build a house and a workshop. But Nikolai’s life is ruined by a cruel twist of fate. The author portrays Nikolai as a modern Job, enduring with fortitude the hardships that befell him.

In 2011, Zvyagintsev’s film "Yelena" took the jury prize in Cannes and then scooped four Golden Eagles and other awards.

In 2003, Zvyagintsev’s "Return" won the Grand Prix at the Venice film festival. Around 600,000 people watched “Return” in France.

Competing in Cannes this year were "The Captive" directed by Atom Egoyan, "Two Days, One Night" by the Dardenne brothers, starring Marion Cotillard, "Maps to the Stars" by David Cronenberg, starring Robert Pattinson, "Adieu au langage" by Jean-Luc Godard, "The Homesman" by Tommy Lee Jones and other films, in all 18 entries.

The jury headed by New Zealand director Jane Campion comprised actress Carole Bouquet (France), actor Willem Dafoe (USA), actor Gael Garcia Bernal (Mexico), actress Jeon Do-yeon (South Korea), director Sofia Coppola (USA), director Jia Zhangke (China) and Nicolas Winding Refn (Denmark).

The Cannes 2014 award winners, aside from Zvyagintsev’s "Leviathan", are "Winter Sleep" directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, (Palm d’Or), "The Wonders" by Alice Rohrwacher (Grand Prize), "Foxcatcher" by Bennett Miller (Best Director), "Mommy" by Xavier Dolan and "Adieu au langage" by Jean-Luc Godard (Jury Prize), Julianne Moore - "Maps to the Stars" (Best Actress), Timothy Spall - "Mr. Turner" (Best Actor).