Minotaur film explores Russian social collapse

The film Minotaur, directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, serves as a reimagining of Claude Chabrol’s Stéphane, une femme infidèle. Set in 2022 Russia, the story follows Gleb, a wealthy entrepreneur who suspects his wife Galina of infidelity and hires a company vigilante to investigate her.

The narrative intersects personal betrayal with the political reality of the Russian special operation against Ukraine. As Gleb faces the humiliation of adultery, he is simultaneously pressured by local authorities to contribute to the military mobilization. The film depicts the parallel collapses of a private marriage and a nation under authoritarian rule.

Zvyagintsev, who is currently in exile in France, won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival for this work. The film was also selected to represent France at the Oscars and was recently presented at the Rome Film Fest.