Beanpole (film)


Beanpole is a 2019 Russian historical drama film directed by Kantemir Balagov. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. At Cannes, Balagov won the Un Certain Regard Best Director Award and the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film in the Un Certain Regard section. It was selected as the Russian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, making the December shortlist.

Plot

The film, set in 1945 Leningrad, tells the story of Iya, a young woman returning from World War II with a 3-year-old child, and her friend and former fellow soldier Masha.

Release

In April 2019, it was announced Beanpole would debut in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in May.

Reception

Box office

Beanpole grossed $196,258 in the United States and Canada and $1.8 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $2 million.

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 91% based on 85 reviews, with an average rating of 7.78/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Filmed with impressive skill and brought to life by unforgettable performances, Beanpole takes a heartbreakingly empathetic look at lives shattered by war". On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 based on 26 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

Accolades