The Return

Andrei Zvyagintsev, Russia, 2003, 105 minutes

Two boys who live in remote Russia with their mother don't even suspect that their father, who left them a long time ago, might come back one day and change their lives completely. When the prodigal father returns and takes them for a road trip, an amazing and powerful story unfolds. A story about the difficult and rough men's love, and their incapability to speak about emotions combined with a desperate attempt to show them. The two brothers, brilliantly acted by Vladimir Garin and Ivan Dobronravov, are both entering the age of transformation from a boy into a man and constantly try to dominate each other and test each others courage. Although very different, somewhere deep inside they share the need for a father figure and during the journey they struggle with the feelings of grief and longing.

But don't get me wrong - this is not a "boys only" film but a truly universal story, which has taken a lot from a classical Greek tragedy. And just like such tragedy, it brings excitement, tears and catharsis, through the enormous emotional load and beautiful, lyrical narration and photography (the opening shot will leave you breathless!).

If you haven't ever seen any Russian films before let The Return be the first one and I guarantee it won't be the last.

Review by Jan Nazcewski
Written for EUFS Programme Autumn 2005