Synopsis
The relationships among two pre-pubescent brothers and their estranged father are tested on a trip into the Russian wilderness.
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Cast
- Vladimir GarinAndrey
- Konstantin LavronenkoFather
- Nataliya VdovinaMother
- Ivan DobronravovIvan
- Lazar DubovikHooligan
- Lyubov KazakovaGirl in the Mirror
- Galina PetrovaGrandmother
- Aleksey SuknovalovZavodila
- Andrey SuminMan at Port
- Elizaveta AleksandrovaOlya
Recommendations
- 100
Christian Science Monitor
Enriched by allusions to biblical stories of fathers, sons, and sacrifices, subtly woven into the movie's moodily photographed fabric. - 90
The Hollywood Reporter
At once a powerful psychological thriller and a haunting allegory, The Return marks an auspicious feature debut for helmer Andrey Zvyagintsev. - 90
The New York Times
At once highly naturalistic and dreamily abstract, playing out its mythic themes through vibrantly detailed characterizations (and remarkable performances by the entire cast). The Return announces the arrival of a major new talent. - 88
New York Daily News
A haunting, melancholy work. - 88
New York Post
Vladimir Garin and Ivan Dobronravov are amazingly natural as the boys, and Konstantin Lavronenko impresses as the taciturn father. - 80
New York Magazine (Vulture)
The hurt and rage flying back and forth have primal power, like Russian-flavored Eugene O'Neill. It's rare for a movie to work as effectively as this one does on such parallel tracks. - 80
Variety
Constructed like an eerie, metaphorical thriller, this tense, riveting character study offers viewers nearly two hours of emotions with a stunning pay-off no one will be expecting. - 70
Village Voice
Primordial and laconic, this remarkably assured debut feature has the elegant simplicity of its title.
