Loveless (Nelyubov) is a haunting 2017 Russian drama film directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, known for his stark portrayals of moral decay and societal emptiness. The film captures the emotional and physical disappearance of a child as a metaphor for a society in decline, with chilling precision and devastating realism.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: The Cold World of Zhenya and Boris
Set in modern-day Moscow, Loveless opens with an atmosphere of emotional frost. Zhenya (Maryana Spivak) and Boris (Aleksey Rozin) are a couple in the midst of a bitter divorce. Both are already in new relationships — Zhenya with a wealthy older man, and Boris with a younger, pregnant girlfriend. Their main concern is selling their apartment and moving on with their separate lives.
The Neglected Child
Their 12-year-old son, Alyosha (Matvey Novikov), becomes the tragic focal point. He overhears his parents arguing about who should take custody of him — both openly admit they don’t want him. The boy’s silent tears as he listens from behind a door is one of the film’s most emotionally crushing moments. Soon after, Alyosha vanishes without a trace.
The Search Begins
When Zhenya realizes her son is missing, she initially assumes he’s just hiding to avoid their constant fighting. But as time passes, panic sets in. The police, overwhelmed and disinterested, treat it as routine. A volunteer search-and-rescue group joins the effort, showing more compassion and professionalism than the parents themselves.
The search takes them through forests, abandoned buildings, and the stark outskirts of Moscow. Each location emphasizes the film’s central theme: the emptiness and alienation of modern life.
The Parallel Lives of the Parents
While their son remains missing, Zhenya and Boris continue their personal lives almost unaffected. Zhenya spends her nights scrolling through social media, seeking validation and comfort in her new partner. Boris, fearful that his religious employer might fire him for divorcing, hides his situation. Both exhibit emotional numbness that mirrors the desolate landscapes around them.
Movie Ending
The film’s climax arrives when the search team finds a decomposed body in an abandoned building, wearing clothing identical to Alyosha’s. The identity is never officially confirmed, but the implication is grimly clear — Alyosha is dead.
Time passes. Zhenya is now living with her new partner in a luxurious apartment, yet she remains emotionally detached and haunted. She occasionally visits her mother, a woman whose cold, abusive demeanor hints at the generational cycle of lovelessness that shaped Zhenya’s own inability to nurture.
Boris, now married to his new partner and caring for a newborn, appears trapped in the same unloving routine as before — arguing, ignoring, existing without meaning.
The final sequence shows Zhenya jogging on a treadmill, wearing a tracksuit emblazoned with “RUSSIA.” The camera lingers as she runs in place, symbolizing a nation — and a woman — moving nowhere, consumed by spiritual emptiness.
There is no happy resolution, no moment of catharsis. Only the unrelenting cold of emotional void.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Loveless does not have any post-credits scenes. The movie ends on its final symbolic image, leaving viewers in silent contemplation — and discomfort.
Type of Movie
Loveless is a psychological drama and social critique, exploring themes of alienation, emotional detachment, and the moral decay of modern society.
Cast
- Maryana Spivak as Zhenya
- Aleksey Rozin as Boris
- Matvey Novikov as Alyosha
- Marina Vasilyeva as Masha
- Andris Keiss as Anton
- Natalya Potapova as Zhenya’s Mother
Film Music and Composer
The haunting score was composed by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine, whose minimalist, melancholic music underlines the film’s suffocating emotional landscape. Their compositions evoke quiet despair, blending perfectly with the film’s wintry visuals.
Filming Locations
Filming took place in and around Moscow, Russia, particularly in the city’s suburban outskirts. The bleak, sterile architecture and snow-covered forests serve as metaphors for emotional desolation. The cold landscapes almost become a character themselves, embodying the title’s central theme: lovelessness.
Awards and Nominations
- Cannes Film Festival (2017) – Jury Prize Winner
- Academy Awards (2018) – Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film
- BAFTA Awards (2018) – Nominated for Best Film Not in the English Language
- European Film Awards (2017) – Won Best Composer (Evgueni & Sacha Galperine)
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Director Andrey Zvyagintsev described the film as a “portrait of a society where love is absent, starting from the family.”
- The search scenes were based on real volunteer rescue groups in Russia, which Zvyagintsev studied closely.
- The child actor Matvey Novikov was shielded from the most emotional scenes; body doubles were used for the discovery sequence.
- The film’s working title was The Disappearance, later changed to Loveless to emphasize emotional rather than physical absence.
Inspirations and References
- The story was inspired by real-life cases of missing children in Russia and the public’s apathetic response.
- It also draws thematic influence from Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Avventura (1960), where a disappearance exposes human emptiness.
- Zvyagintsev cited Fyodor Dostoevsky’s psychological depth as a major influence on the film’s moral tone.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
The film’s ending remained largely as scripted, but an alternate version was considered where Zhenya visits Alyosha’s school years later, reflecting on what might have been. This scene was ultimately removed to maintain the stark ambiguity that defines Zvyagintsev’s work.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Loveless is not based on a book, though it feels literary in tone and structure. Its style echoes the works of Russian novelists like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky — slow-burning, introspective, and morally charged.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Alyosha overhearing his parents argue about not wanting him — a defining emotional blow.
- The first volunteer search, with flashlights cutting through the snowy forest.
- The visit to the morgue, where Zhenya and Boris confront the possibility of their son’s death.
- Zhenya jogging on the treadmill, symbolizing the endless cycle of indifference.
Iconic Quotes
- Zhenya: “I never loved you. I married you because I was pregnant.”
- Volunteer Leader: “If we don’t look for him, no one will.”
- Boris: “People don’t change. They only pretend to.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The “Russia” tracksuit Zhenya wears at the end is not accidental; it’s a quiet critique of national identity and stagnation.
- The wallpaper in Alyosha’s room features fading stars — symbolizing his lost innocence and unfulfilled childhood.
- Zvyagintsev uses reflections in glass and mirrors to show emotional barriers between characters.
Trivia
- Zvyagintsev’s previous film, Leviathan, was banned in several Russian regions; Loveless faced similar censorship threats.
- The director refused to shoot a “more optimistic” ending, despite pressure from producers.
- The actors performed under extremely cold conditions, with some outdoor scenes filmed at -20°C.
Why Watch?
Loveless is not an easy watch, but it’s an essential one. It’s a mirror held up to the human condition — to families fractured by apathy, to societies that have forgotten empathy, and to the cold space that grows between people when love is gone. It’s visually stunning, emotionally brutal, and intellectually profound.
Director’s Other Movies
- Leviathan (2014)
- Elena (2011)
- The Return (2003)
- The Banishment (2007)
Recommended Films for Fans
- A Separation (2011)
- Blue Valentine (2010)
- The Return (2003)
- The White Ribbon (2009)
- Winter Sleep (2014)
