Review of Vozvrashchenie

This was a terrific film and I was engrossed in it from the beginning. I feel it on many levels. A story of relationships and trust that have been broken. In the film although it wasn't religious I felt there was an element of gods trials. Or even a herculean test. The cinematography was beautiful the setting cold and wild but so awe inspiring. There was an underlying sense of paranoia throughout and of biting the bait or trying not too. It was discovering how a broken relationship can be mended and the trials you go through to reach that possibility. The two young boys were as terrific as the father in their roles. Since Ivan was called chicken in the early part of the film he wanted to redeem himself. He mistrusted his father and still needed to impress his brother Andrei.

There was a quiet threat from the father in the film which kept you guessing. All building to a sad haunting ending that will stay with me. I will certainly return (pun intended) to this absolute gem of a film.