Fidelity (original title: Верность) is a 2019 Russian erotic drama film by Nigina Sayfullaeva which tackles complex issues such as infidelity, repression, and the female sexuality. with a character portrait of a woman grappling with the trust, intimacy, betrayal of a collapsing marriage. Best described as “raw” in its depiction of the psyche, the film sheds light on the troubling reality of a woman confronting the inner conflicts of a failing marriage. Fidelity has sparked much debate around the world after its world premiere at Kinotavr and later showed at many international film festivals, including Shanghai, and San Francisco, for its unapologetic depiction of modern-day female desire in contemporary relationships.
Synopsis
Fidelity takes place in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and tells the story of Lena, an accomplished 30-year-old obstetrician gynecologist, whose life is seemingly perfect. She is married to Sergey, a problematic actor in the local theater who, on the surface, loves Lena. To make matters seemingly worse, Lena starts to notice suspicious signs that hint towards her husband being unfaithful to her.
Her doubts may remain unfounded, but they poison her mind. Rather than confronting Sergey, Lena preempts him and directs her rage, confusion and feelings of betrayal onto her own acts of infidelity, seeking to enact revenge. She starts partaking in sexual encounters with random strangers in an effort to both reclaim the passion that once animated her marriage and retaliate.
As Lena sinks deeper into this new world of indiscriminate intimacy, the lines between her personal life and professional conduct begin to blur. She starts taking irrationally dangerous risks that jeopardize her career, marriage, and mental health. With every ‘lover,’ she loses more and more of herself, and is forced to ask what fidelity means—not just within a marriage, but in relation to emotional honesty, and self-respect.
Instead of providing straightforward solutions or moral guidance, the film addresses the complexities of how people deal with emotional absence and unfulfilled needs with a rich narrative. In this case, Lena’s story serves the purpose of personal discovery and inner turmoil, eventually leading to a revelation that can set her free—or not.
Looking back at the film history of our country, it is purely factual that Gromova made a stunning debut in this film. Aleksandr Pal also performed great as Gromova’s husband. But unlike his Lena, the husband was less developed. He still was strong enough reason for the wife to lose control over herself. With his taciturn and vague attitudes toward her, Pornoliferina made many guesses, but what was the purpose of all that we never got to know.
Of greatest interest are also the other participants of the performance. Alexey Agranovich for John, the one who is supposed to be one of Lena’s more interesting lovers. Marina Vasilyeva plays Katya, Sergey’s workmate and potential mistress.
Sayfullaeva is the second co-writer of this film alongside Lyubov Mulmenko by other text nurses. She’s praised to have without fantasy, there’s lore fascinating with Mark Ziselson’s cinematography. ”
A lot of people besides Mark Ziselson also praised: Premiere studios with Droog Drooga who made themselves list as producers of Sergey Kornikhin, Valeriy Fedorovich, Evgeniy Nikishov.
Thematic Discussion and Analysis
“Fidelity” is primarily about disconnection—emotional, physical and psychological rifts—rather than sex. The film addresses the ways people replace intimacy with lust while revealing that silence in relationships can be more destructive than lies. It also looks at the extreme disconnect one can feel even within the most intimate relationships.
Lena’s journey is not depicted as a moralistic cautionary tale, nor as a moral failure, but rather a deeply human effort to reclaim a lost part of her self. Through her choices, the film poses the questions: Is fidelity only about physical monogamy? Is emotional neglect equally harmful as an affair? Is there such a thing as self-destruction that leads to understanding the self?
In the Russian context, where female desire is often neglected or overly moralized, the treatment of sexuality by Sayfullaeva is shocking. Lena’s body and those decisions are not objectified; rather, they are a part of her journey, which renders the film a journey toward identity.
IMDb Ratings and Reception
Fidelity has an IMDb rating of 6.3/10, which signals polarised reception among the audiences. While the film’s “fearless direction”, “intimate storytelling” and “commanding performance” of Evgeniya Gromova were praised by many, some criticized the subject matter along with explicit content.
Critics did not waste time pointing out the film’s importance within a more traditional cinematic context. While some called it a bold feminist statement, others criticized it for being too ambiguous and morally unsatisfying. No matter what side one takes, it is undoubtedly clear the film bears emotional impact and takes the risk of depicting a woman’s internal disintegration.
The film received numerous awards at international festivals, especially for Gromova’s acting, which many noted as the emotional and narrative focus of the film.
Conclusion
Fidelity is an audacious film that is unrelentingly visceral in its exploration of marriage, sexuality, and feminine agency. It avoids oversimplification, instead drawing viewers into the protagonist’s turbulent psyche. Sayfullaeva is not only remarkable for her braveness to dive into taboo themes, but also for her skillful directing, deep thematic exploration, brutally honest direction and strong performances turned the film into a masterpiece.
By closely portraying emotional alienation and the silent destruction of unmet expectations, Fidelity does not only challenge the notion of fidelity, but seeks to redefine it.
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