Star Rating:

The Return

Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev

Actors: Konstantin Lavronenko, Ivan Dobronravov, Vladimir Garin

Release Date: Monday 30th November -0001

Running time: 110 minutes

After twelve years of zip contact, a father (Konstantin Lavronenko) walks back into the lives of his two boys, Ivan (Ivan Dobronravov) and Andrey (Vladimir Garin). A sullen man, the nameless father decides to take his sons away on a trip to a remote part of Russia to get to know them. The older of the two, Ivan, is eager for parental affection and avails of every opportunity to show his worth to his father. Andrey, however, is a self-doubting introverted boy, who views everyone and everything with suspicion. What's more, their father doesn't seem in line for parent of the year and treats the pair roughly, ocassionally brutally, and doesn't seem to know what to do with them.

An impressive debut feature, The Return is a cleverly made, richly atmospheric and deeply layered drama. Subtle but provocative, the film's sparse central tenant captivates due to the range of characterisation and an excellent cast. Relief isn't at a premium and the film borders on the crushingly intense, yet it's a work of hidden depths. It might not be a barrel of laughs but The Return is a veiled and affecting piece.