Vozvrashcheniye - The Return
It’s only once a year after the closing night of the Maryland Film Festival that I take some time to write down a few little movie commentaries. And then I find myself struggling to write something more meaningful than “I like it (or not)”, so I normally just avoid writing about the films I watch throughout a year. But once in a while I discover a film (like Together or The Fall) that leaves such a strong impression on me, I have to mention it, even if it’s only to create a record of its existence.
Yesterday I watched such a film: Vozvrashcheniye or The Return, by Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev. What a brilliant, unforgettable movie. Wow…although it was his debut directing a full-length feature after working with commercials before, it instantly found a place in my list of top-favorites. I find The Return essential and give it a rating of 10/10. This film is a masterpiece.
I can only hope that Andrei Zvyagintsev continues his path. He might be worthy to become Tarkovsky’s, Truffaut’s or Ingmar Bergman’s successor.
I don’t even know what to say…everything was as close to perfection as it can get. The photography was just beautiful, the camera work outstanding. The actors, especially Konstantin Lavronenko were
fantastic. The music (as well as the silence) was wonderful, the mood and setting, psychology, characters and story, the ending, the complexity within the minimal, the unexpected…
I have to keep an eye on him. I can’t wait to see what his next projects will be like. After The Return he also directed a film named Izgnanie or The Banishment, released in 2007, also starring Konstantin Lavronenko. I have to watch it as soon as it becomes available.
Thank you Andrei Zvyagintsev for enriching cinema with The Return. I can highly recommend this film.
