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Reviews of Recent Independent, Foreign, & Documentary Films in Theaters and DVD/Home Video
THE RETURN
After 12 years of absence, a father suddenly resurfaces to take his sons on a fishing trip. The boys are
forced to separate from their mother, depend on each other and grow up quickly in order to
survive. Vanya (Dobronravov), the younger brother, continually probes his father to figure out why he left and
where he’s been. The more mature Andrey (Garin) likes simply having a father figure and rebuts
Vanya’s continual questioning with “maybe he wants to forget.” The unknown is a theme that
runs throughout the film and one that director Andrey Zvyagintsev, in his feature film debut,
grapples with beautifully by following the newly formed family as they adventure through the
countryside, across a lake and onto a small island. Much of the film is constructed around almost
still two-shots of the boys who come into focus individually, signaling their distance, while
silently hinting at the unknowns about each other and their father. The director writes in the
press notes, “To a great extent, the film is a mythological look on human life.” Indeed, there is
an allegorical trajectory to the film; we accept the impossible events (like rowing a small boat
through a harrowing storm) as they unfold and watch the children learn and mature from each
event. However, the film avoids being heavy-handed by virtue of its stunning cinematography
and seamless editing (including a careful attention to sound). The Return, a tale of
building the necessary skills to overcome life’s unavoidable tragedies, is bleak at times, sweet at
others, and has a power that resonates long after the credits roll. Caitlin Shamberg, former programming associate, Mill Valley Film Festival
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