Vernost

A Rough Study on Intimacy and Treachery Untold

In the year 2019, Nigina Sayfullaeva directed the Russian erotic drama, ‘Vernost,’ or as it’s translated, “Fidelity.” This film tackles complex human emotions head-on and does not refrain from exploring the very painful emotions that accompanies validation. The film is an emotional but sensual, blissful mess. Vernost strings together desire, betrayal, loneliness, and the ache that accompanies each and every one of these sensations. The film is filled with bittersweet visuals that culminate together to create nauseating emotions. On one side, the film evokes a longing for emotional intent, and on the other side, it promotes physical betrayal.

The film begins with a plot overview

The plot of the story Leran begins to unfold in the depth of the chilling streets of Russia. It focuses on Lena (Yevgenia Gromova), a well-established gynecologist in her thirties. At first glance, she appears to be quite levelheaded and collected but, there is more to her than meets the eye. Her husband, Sergey (Aleksandr Pal), bears the traits of a typical 21st century narcissistic man. He is a charming theater actor, but devoid of real emotions.

Instead of finding solutions, Lena develops a secret life where she engages in casual sexual relationships with strangers. These encounters serve as her escapes, allowing her to indulge not only in the baser aspects of her nature, but in feelings of power, self, and emotional relief. Even though she keeps a straight face at work and home, she rapidly becomes addicted to the rush.

But the emotional wall begins to crack. What once gave her strength—the double life—becomes a burden, which takes her to an inescapable confrontation—both with herself and her husband—and what fidelity means.

Main Characters

• Yevgenia Gromova as Lena: A quiet and emotionally complex woman, Gromova does effortlessly embody the role of the protagonist filled with conflict, sensuality, and fragility.
• Makelysandr Pal as Sergey: Her husband, aloof and possibly cheating, who unwittingly drives Lena over the edge.
• Marina Vasileva as Masha: The most realistic character among Lena’s colleagues, Masha is Lena’s friend and a source of support.

Themes and Tone

Vernost dares to be a film about infidelity but goes further to analyze the impacts of love within familiar contexts, and the outcome of passion devoid of reciprocation. It raises answers to the following questions:

Is betrayal only physical?

To what extent can someone be emotionally detached to be considered a traitor?

What occurs to a person when one can no longer identify their wishes?

Nigina says “I don’t think there is a right side, the side of good and the side of evil.” She depicts Lena’s decisions using brutal simplicity, allowing her audience to make their evaluations. The result is a film that is deeply sad but at the same time sensual. It is never unkind, and what drives it is the emotion rather than the words.

Cinematography and Style

The artistic features of Vernost are visual, cold and have a primary tone. The silence of the lengthy camera movements speaks to the inner hollowness of Lena. The emotional depravity of her hospital setting juxtaposed with the tenderness of her encounters further complicates and amplifies the duality. The camera doesn’t pan, not for the sake of voyeurism, but to delve into the psyche.

The erotic scenes are raw in their portrayal, placing emphasis on Lena’s emotions and not the intimate act. This approach is discomforting yet profound, forcing the viewer to be a witness rather than a spectator.

Reception

Vernost broke ground at international festivals where the film was simultaneously released in other countries owing to its daring storytelling and nuanced female protagonist. Yevgenia Gromova’s performance as an undressed woman addicted to female desire and moral imbalance wowed the critics.

In Lena’s Controversial Choices In Azabelle, there Was Reasonable Outrage Over Her Portrayal Of One Dimensional Females Claiming It Was Radical Feminism. While Some Viewers Found It Touching, Others Could Not Emotionally Connect.

To Conclude

Vernost Is An Unusual Movie To Watch Mere Mortals By Dean Kosmachev. While Definetly Not Comfortable In Many Ways, It Is Highly Personal. It Challenges Viewers Thoughtfully To Address Fidelity Or Lack Thereof And The Ramifications Of An Unattended Emotional Vacuum. This Is Modern Russian Cinema At Its Most Evocative, Sensuous And Self Reflective.

Watch Vernost For A Captivating Experience That Will Not Be Drowned Out By Standard Overused Story Lines.