Limonov: The Ballad
Limonov: The Ballad is a 2024 film directed by Kirill Serebrennikov. It is based on Emmanuel Carrère's 2011 book Limonov, a novelized biography of the Russian dissident writer and politician Eduard Limonov, who founded the National Bolshevik Party.
| Limonov: The Ballad | |
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| Directed by | Kirill Serebrennikov |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Limonov by Emmanuel Carrère |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Ben Whishaw |
| Cinematography | Roman Vasyanov |
| Edited by | Yuriy Karikh |
| Music by | Massimo Pupillo |
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Release date |
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Running time | 138 minutes |
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| Language | English |
The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on 19 May 2024.
Premise
A revolutionary militant, a thug, an underground writer, a butler to a millionaire in Manhattan. But also a switchblade waving poet, a lover of beautiful women, a warmonger, a political agitator and a novelist who wrote of his own greatness. Eduard Limonov's life story is a journey through Russia, America and Europe during the second half of the 20th century.[1]
Cast
- Ben Whishaw as Eddie
- Tomas Arana as Steven
- Sandrine Bonnaire as Radio Interviewer
- Viktoria Miroshnichenko as Yelena Shchapova
- Louis-Do de Lencquesaing
- Maria Mashkova as Anna
- Ivan Ivashkin as poet
- Corrado Invernizzi as Lonya
- Odin Biron as Ethan
- Donald Sumpter as Eddie's father
Production
In 2017, Paweł Pawlikowski adapted Emmanuel Carrère's biographical novel Limonov (2011), based on the life of Eduard Limonov, into a screenplay.[2] Pawlikowski planned to direct the film adaptation but revealed in 2020 that he lost interest in the character and abandoned plans to direct.[3]
Release
Limonov: The Ballad was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 19 May 2024.[4]
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 70% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10.[5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 based on 9 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[6]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 25 May 2024 | Palme d'Or | Kirill Serebrennikov | Nominated | [7] |
References
- "Limonov: The Ballad". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- Vivarelli, Nick (29 December 2017). "Pawel Pawlikowski, Director of Oscar-Winning 'Ida,' to Helm 'Limonov' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- "Paweł Pawlikowski nie wyreżyseruje "Limonova"". Onet.pl. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- "The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- "Limonov: The Ballad of Eddie". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- "Limonov: The Ballad". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- Ntim, Zac (11 April 2024). "Cannes Film Festival Lineup Set: Competition Includes Coppola, Audiard, Cronenberg, Arnold, Lanthimos, Sorrentino & Abbasi's Trump Movie — Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 9 May 2024.