The Return
Oh God, I wanted to cry when Ivan ran into the water crying “Papa, papa!” This movie is too beautiful for words, even though it took me ages to finally watch it. I read somewhere that the director was intensely looking for “genius actors” to play the brothers and these boys are absolutely brilliant. Vladimir Garin would probably have grown into a great actor, and Vanya Dobronravov probably is (despite his lack of large roles ever since).
This is one of those films where not so much happens, and more emphasis is put on subtleties between the character and the endless vastness of Russian landscape – Tarkovsky anyone? Luckily this film is more than just beautiful shots of Russia, although the film leaves me a bit speechless. After the most powerful moment in the film, the escalation of the conflict between father and son, Zvyagintsev brought out the most serene and beautiful shots of the sea, and the photo series at the end of the film was reminiscent of the ending of JSA.
God is dead. I agree that the film is clearly supposed to be religious in a similar way that “Au hasard Balthasar” is, except the father here is God. The brothers represent ourselves who have lost the father and are bound to lose him again. With that background, everything that happens in the film becomes acceptable – you don’t ask yourself why Andrei doesn’t reprimand Ivan for literally having killed their father, nor what is up with that box the father retrieved on the island.
I might not have loved the film as much Shii did, but I certainly loved it. It is memorable and beautifully shot (albeit maybe just a little bit less so than Tarkovsky’s Stalker) and Gorp should watch it if it has not happened yet. XD
i have watched this – but it has been like 5 years or something xDDDDD so i don’t recall much. i should watch it again, obviously.
Haha oh my! I am not sure if “The Return” is worth a rewatch for me, but it certainly is the kind of film which has so much symbolism that you could discover more things on a second watch after you knew what is happening.
i think i would only bother to rewatch it when it was featured in a cinema program or something. which would be really great.
Yeah, that makes sense. But if that ever happens, you have to see it!