A film based on William Saroyan's "The Laughing Matter" represents Russia in Cannes

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The Banishment" directed by Andrei Zvyagintsev from Russia takes part in the official selection of Cannes's Festival. The film is based on "The Laughing Matter", a novel by William Saroyan, independent French journalist Jean Eckian informed the PanARMENIAN.Net The story is about a family, which moved from an industrial city to countryside to the husband's birthplace, to stay in his father's old house. In the center of the subject are relations between the husband and wife. This film is about kind, beautiful people in the tragic circumstances of hopelessness.



Maria Bonnevie (Maria) from Sweden, who learnt Russian during three years of shootings, together with Konstantin Lavronenko (Alex) and Alexander Baluev (Mark) play key roles in the film.



It has been four years since Andrei Zvyagintsev was honored with the Golden Lion at the Venice Festival for his first film, The Return. His second film, The Banishment, screening in Competition brings the Russian director to Cannes for the first time. Some critics say director Andrei Zvyagintsev's chances are rather high. And on May 27, when the film festival is over, the world will know who the winner of the Golden Olive-Branch is.