Oscar calls on "Leviathan"

Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev is taking the good with the bad as the media blitz for his critical acclaimed film "Leviathan" builds.

SOUNDBITE: Andrey Zvyagintsev, director, saying (Russian):

"So you go into production, you make a film, you go into the last period and you feel so releaved and then the unpleasant part begins."

The movie tells the story of political corruption, love and tragedy as the lead character fights the government from illegally taking his home, business and land.

As the film prepares for its U.S. debut the film maker hopes American audiences will see the universal message.

SOUNDBITE: Andrey Zvyagintsev, director, saying (Russian):

"American audiences will view it as a story that happens somewhere out there no matter how universal it is. But I think a Russian audience will watch it as hopefully a universal story but also it is the story of their everyday life."

Since the film's release it has won the best screenplay