Elena (2011)

Elena and Vladimir, an older couple from starkly contrasting backgrounds, navigate the twilight of their lives in a stately flat just beyond the Kremlin's reach. Vladimir, a man of substantial wealth and frigid demeanor, finds his life interwoven with Elena, a former nurse of humble origins, whose docility serves as a stark contrast to his aloofness. Their late-life union has brought together not just two worlds, but also two families from previous marriages, each carrying their own weight. Elena's adult son, Sergei, grapples with unemployment, a struggle that has turned him into a recurring shadow asking his mother for financial aid. On the other side of the familial coin, Vladimir's daughter, Katya, is a carefree spirit, her life punctuated by a distant relationship with her father. The family's emotional tapestry is abruptly torn when Vladimir is hospitalized after a heart attack, leading to a tender, yet fleeting reunion with Katya that leads him to a pivotal decision. When Vladimir emerges from the shadow of mortality, he shocks Elena with the announcement that Katya will be the sole inheritor of his considerable wealth. This shatters Elena's aspirations of aiding her struggling son and his family, leaving them to grapple with their financial woes. But as despair creeps in, the seemingly submissive Elena contemplates a daring plan, born of desperation and love. In a world where wealth and status have bred indifference and isolation, Elena finds herself poised at the edge of a precipice. Can she transform from a docile housewife into a cunning strategist to secure a slice of happiness for her family? The once-silent Elena is forced to take action, raising the question of how far one would go in the pursuit of a better life for those they love.

Elena is a drama movie featuring Nadezhda Markina and directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev.

Elena is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Klassiki.

It is also possible to buy Elena on Apple TV.