Vozvrashcheniye (The Return)

tonytol · 30-07-2004, 17:21

Anyone else seen it?

Set in a bleak russian town, a father (looking like a russian Billy-Bob Thornton) returns to the family after 12 years to take his 2 sons (12 & 15) on a trip. Nothing is really explained. After the film finished, one of the actors (the older son played by Vladimir Garin) dies jumping off the tower seen in the start of the film where boys are daring each other to jump off...

The film is strange but beautiful.

James45 · 02-03-2005, 19:56

What region is this available on? I'd like to see this one, I saw it nominated on the BBC4 World Cinema Award this year.

tonytol · 02-03-2005, 21:25

Region 2 try Play, for instance

Jimmyboy · 02-03-2005, 22:47

It's an excellent film which has left critics devided on what the movie is actually all about. Some suggest a communist Vs reformist power struggle, others suggest the film is based on the Bible. Can't really write anymore that that coz it's one of those films which you could waffle on endlessly about.

James45 · 03-03-2005, 07:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonytol

Region 2 try Play, for instance

the word doh springs to mind... thanks

EDIT: £15 for a DVD?! Can't remember the last time I paid that... I'll wait for the next world cinema sale at Play.

Inigo Montoya · 03-03-2005, 20:03

... After the film finished, one of the actors (the older son played by Vladimir Garin) dies jumping off the tower seen in the start of the film where boys are daring each other to jump off...

Blimey - missed that completely - was that on the DVD then ?

Personally I didnt even consider the story was trying to be some sort of abstract policitical or religious metaphor - just enjoyed it for what it was

I just want to know why so many Russian films can be described as "bleak" - seems a bit unbalanced

Anybody wanting to try something exactly the opposite should try "Irony Of Fate" - its the Russian equivalent to "Its a Wondeful Life"

Jimmyboy · 03-03-2005, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

... After the film finished, one of the actors (the older son played by Vladimir Garin) dies jumping off the tower seen in the start of the film where boys are daring each other to jump off...

Blimey - missed that completely - was that on the DVD then ?

No I'm afraid he died in real life in a freak and tragic accident. He went back to the lake after the films completion and there was some kind of accident. Very sad.

The metaphors are quite clear when you think back in hind sight - A father returning from out of nowhere, the last supper, the passing of red whine, the crossing of water, the film takes place over 7 days, the constant use of fish as a symbol etc. But it also works well simply as a story about a father trying to re-connect with his children and failing to separate tough love with companionate love.

James45 · 04-03-2005, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

Anybody wanting to try something exactly the opposite should try "Irony Of Fate" - its the Russian equivalent to "Its a Wondeful Life"

Available on the excellent Rusico label with full subs and english menus, I've had it for ages but need to put aside an afternoon to watch it, there can't be that many other three hour comedies around.

Inigo Montoya · 04-03-2005, 18:02

you need a bit of patience with Irony Of Fate - you may find the first part drags a bit but once it gets going its great ...

James45 · 03-04-2005, 21:46

The Return is currently available at Play.com for £8.

Glennza · 05-04-2005, 22:09

Vozvrashcheniye has got to be one of the hardest dvd's to search for. There seems to be a few different spellings of the Cyrillic(?) name and as for searching for "The Return", you get every Return of.... title under the sun.

Been waiting for a decent price for this, thanks James!

James45 · 15-04-2005, 10:25

Absolutely loved this, great direction, seriously beautiful photography and three great performances. I love the sense of mystery left at the end as the script doesn't feel the need to explain a thing. Can't reccommend this highly enough.

PlexShaw · 15-04-2005, 11:02

Agreed: saw it on its theatrical run last year and thought it was excellent.

wakefieldrawks · 15-10-2005, 02:32

This film is excellent. Whys there not not much talk of it on here? Anyone recommend any other good european films?

Inigo Montoya · 16-10-2005, 00:38

how long is a piece of string ....

two other good russian ones are cranes are flying & ballad of a soldier

good polish comedy is sexmission (have one on my trade thread)

Im not even going to try to list western european ones as they are 2 a penny

Gerrard · 20-03-2006, 15:13

If anyone's not caught this beautiful film, it's on More4 on Friday Night

Another reason to get a Freeview box if you don't have one.

Squirrel God · 20-03-2006, 23:25

I saw this around this time last year. It was nowhere near as uneventful as Gus Van Sant's Gerry, but I got the same feelings while watching it; namely that I felt like I was watching a 15-min short film forcibly stretched out to a full-length feature, and I kept asking myself why I was watching it.

There is a lot of metaphor in the film that enables it to be interpreted at a number of levels, but just having metaphor is not enough - without a purpose I found it impossible to care because, ultimately, the film doesn't go anywhere. In fact, it feels like half a film. It desperately needed some more script added on to the end to provide that missing point, purpose, end goal, whatever. We even had a McGuffin that wasn't really a McGuffin.

On the positive side, the film looks great, the acting is great, the soundtrack is gorgeous, and it does contain some nice scenes.

30-07-2004, 17:21	#1
tonytol Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 2,507 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Vozvrashcheniye (The Return) Anyone else seen it? Set in a bleak russian town, a father (looking like a russian Billy-Bob Thornton) returns to the family after 12 years to take his 2 sons (12 & 15) on a trip. Nothing is really explained. After the film finished, one of the actors (the older son played by Vladimir Garin) dies jumping off the tower seen in the start of the film where boys are daring each other to jump off... The film is strange but beautiful. Last edited by tonytol; 30-07-2004 at 17:22.

16-10-2005, 00:38	#15
Inigo Montoya Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	how long is a piece of string .... two other good russian ones are cranes are flying & ballad of a soldier good polish comedy is sexmission (have one on my trade thread) Im not even going to try to list western european ones as they are 2 a penny Last edited by Inigo Montoya; 16-10-2005 at 00:40.

20-03-2006, 23:25	#17
Squirrel God Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 8,018 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I saw this around this time last year. It was nowhere near as uneventful as Gus Van Sant's Gerry, but I got the same feelings while watching it; namely that I felt like I was watching a 15-min short film forcibly stretched out to a full-length feature, and I kept asking myself why I was watching it. There is a lot of metaphor in the film that enables it to be interpreted at a number of levels, but just having metaphor is not enough - without a purpose I found it impossible to care because, ultimately, the film doesn't go anywhere. In fact, it feels like half a film. It desperately needed some more script added on to the end to provide that missing point, purpose, end goal, whatever. We even had a McGuffin that wasn't really a McGuffin. On the positive side, the film looks great, the acting is great, the soundtrack is gorgeous, and it does contain some nice scenes. Last edited by Squirrel God; 20-03-2006 at 23:27.

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02-03-2005, 19:56	#2
James45 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: East London Posts: 8,976 Thanks: 6 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	What region is this available on? I'd like to see this one, I saw it nominated on the BBC4 World Cinema Award this year.

02-03-2005, 21:25	#3
tonytol Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 2,507 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Region 2 try Play, for instance

02-03-2005, 22:47	#4
Jimmyboy ^__^ Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: UK Posts: 13,487 Thanks: 23 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	It's an excellent film which has left critics devided on what the movie is actually all about. Some suggest a communist Vs reformist power struggle, others suggest the film is based on the Bible. Can't really write anymore that that coz it's one of those films which you could waffle on endlessly about.

03-03-2005, 20:03	#6
Inigo Montoya Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	... After the film finished, one of the actors (the older son played by Vladimir Garin) dies jumping off the tower seen in the start of the film where boys are daring each other to jump off... Blimey - missed that completely - was that on the DVD then ? Personally I didnt even consider the story was trying to be some sort of abstract policitical or religious metaphor - just enjoyed it for what it was I just want to know why so many Russian films can be described as "bleak" - seems a bit unbalanced Anybody wanting to try something exactly the opposite should try "Irony Of Fate" - its the Russian equivalent to "Its a Wondeful Life"

04-03-2005, 18:02	#9
Inigo Montoya Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,660 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	you need a bit of patience with Irony Of Fate - you may find the first part drags a bit but once it gets going its great ...

03-04-2005, 21:46	#10
James45 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: East London Posts: 8,976 Thanks: 6 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	The Return is currently available at Play.com for £8.

05-04-2005, 22:09	#11
Glennza Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 250 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Vozvrashcheniye has got to be one of the hardest dvd's to search for. There seems to be a few different spellings of the Cyrillic(?) name and as for searching for "The Return", you get every Return of.... title under the sun. Been waiting for a decent price for this, thanks James!

15-04-2005, 10:25	#12
James45 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: East London Posts: 8,976 Thanks: 6 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Absolutely loved this, great direction, seriously beautiful photography and three great performances. I love the sense of mystery left at the end as the script doesn't feel the need to explain a thing. Can't reccommend this highly enough.

15-04-2005, 11:02	#13
PlexShaw XBL/PSN: PlexShaw Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 4,358 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Agreed: saw it on its theatrical run last year and thought it was excellent.

15-10-2005, 02:32	#14
wakefieldrawks Guest Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 40 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This film is excellent. Whys there not not much talk of it on here? Anyone recommend any other good european films?

20-03-2006, 15:13	#16
Gerrard Your Petrochemical Eyes Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glasgow Posts: 1,068 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If anyone's not caught this beautiful film, it's on More4 on Friday Night Another reason to get a Freeview box if you don't have one.