(Russia/2011—directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev)

Winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s Special Jury Prize, Elena is a gripping, modern twist on the classic noir thriller. Sixty-ish spouses Vladimir and Elena uneasily share his palatial Moscow apartment—he’s a still-virile, wealthy businessman; she’s his dowdy former nurse who has clearly “married up.” Estranged from his own uncontrollable daughter, Vladimir openly despises his wife’s freeloading son and family. But when a sudden illness and an unexpected reunion threaten to interfere with the seemingly dutiful housewife’s potential inheritance, she takes matters in hand by devising a desperate, complex, deadly plan. Masterfully crafted by award-winning Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (Golden Globe nominee for The Return) and highlighted by an evocative, sinuous, original musical score by Philip Glass, Elena is a subtly stylish exploration of crime, punishment and human nature – and one of the best thrillers in years. In Russian with English subtitles. (109 min.)

“Critics’ Pick! A brilliant and gripping movie.” –Stephen Holden, The New York Times

The DFT’s Crystal Gallery Café will be closed during September and the first two weeks of October due to glass and metalwork restoration of the café’s three monumental windows. Please excuse our dust while we complete this exciting project, the finished work will help to preserve the historic ironwork window frames of Samuel Yellin, and give visitors a beautiful view of the night sky and midtown museum campus along John R. During construction, beverages and light snacks will be continue to served on the ground floor in the central Loggia space near the theater entrance.

Friday, September 28 at 7:00 PM