Cannes 2025: Romanian 'Fjord' takes Palme d'Or, Zvyagintsev's anti-war film wins Silver

The 79th Cannes Film Festival concluded with Romanian drama 'Fjord' winning the top prize. Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev claimed the Grand Prix for 'Minotaur', his first film addressing the war in Ukraine. Film critic Anton Dolin analyses why the jury distributed the awards this way.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival has wrapped up, with the Romanian drama 'Fjord' emerging as the top prizewinner. The film tells the story of a religious Romanian family that has relocated to Norway but refuses to adapt to the liberal norms of Scandinavian society — a narrative championing conservative traditions that clearly resonated with the jury.

Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev, known internationally for films such as 'Leviathan' and 'Loveless', was awarded the Silver prize — the Grand Prix — for 'Minotaur'. The film is described as the first serious and uncompromising cinematic reflection on Russia's war against Ukraine, tackling the so-called 'era of the special military operation' head-on.

Film critic Anton Dolin, writing for Meduza, offers an in-depth explanation of the jury's choices, arguing that the contrast between the two leading films reflects a broader tension present throughout this year's festival programme — between Western liberal values and more traditional, conservative worldviews.

Dolin suggests that 'Fjord' won precisely because it presents its subject matter with genuine conviction rather than moralising condemnation, making it more cinematically compelling than a straightforward anti-war statement. Zvyagintsev's 'Minotaur', meanwhile, was recognised for its courage and artistic weight in addressing a subject that remains deeply contentious in the current geopolitical climate.

Several other films also received awards at this year's festival, with the full prize list reflecting a jury attentive to both political relevance and formal filmmaking craft.