Zvyagintsev's Minotaur wins Cannes Grand Prix with bold plea to Putin
Andrey Zvyagintsev’s latest film, Minotaur, has won the Grand Prix at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The Russian director used his acceptance speech to make a bold plea—urging Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Minotaur marks Zvyagintsev’s first feature in nearly a decade. The French-German-Latvian co-production is set in Russia in 2022 and follows Gleb, a company director navigating a turbulent period. Its premiere has drawn global attention, particularly after the director’s emotional remarks on stage.
The film is also competing at the Sydney Film Festival, where its Australian premiere will take place on June 12. During his Cannes speech, Zvyagintsev declared that millions on both sides of the conflict want the massacres to stop. His direct address to Putin stood out as one of the festival’s most striking moments.
Minotaur has already made an impact beyond cinema. The film’s Cannes victory and Zvyagintsev’s public call for peace have brought renewed focus to its themes. Its upcoming screenings in Sydney will likely draw further discussion about art, politics, and the ongoing war.
