The village where they filmed ‘Leviathan’

Stunning photos from the setting of the Oscar-nominee

Andrey Zvyagintsev's Leviathan has already won a handful of major international prizes and awaits the Oscars on February 7. Despite not being released in Russia, it's been causing a controversy—public figures have accused the film of being unpatriotic. Others however are calling Leviathan a masterpiece. The same controversy also exists for the people living in the remote northern village of Teriberka, where Zvyagintsev's filmed the movie.

Bigpicture's photographer Mikhail Mordasov went to Teriberka to find out if it looks anything like the grim place the movie depicts, and to talk to some of the residents. Among them was a former nurse, who says Zavyagintsev's take on reality is spot-on. He also met with local official Tatiana Turbilina who accused the film of trying to discredit her village. After Mordasov posted his story, Turbilina demanded that her portrait be taken down, and threatened to sue Bigpicture.