the return
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- kingjulien
I hope this isn't old news, but I found this to be a truly beautiful, haunting film. The cinematography alone is mesmerizing--the visuals are so gorgeous you're numb afterwards--and it's one of those films you watch over and over until you're in tune with the emptiness of the world.
- kingjulien0
what i meant to say was, what is your favorite mediocre band from 1993-1998 who didn't wear flannel and has never been in rehab?
- kodap0
looks good
- Witt0
Amazing film. One of the best (best = according to my notion of what a film should be).
But i must totally disagree with your statement, kingjulien.
I have seen it twice and it left me in tune with the amazing depth and richness of the world, even in desolate places.
- kingjulien0
Witt, I think you misunderstood the point I was making (although Im stoked that you enjoyed it too). When I say the emptiness of the world, I mean the cold hard naked truth--that life is often cruel and harsh and full of despair, not that such a desolute place doesn't contain depth, richness or beauty. I think the boys growing up without a father and trying to make sense of his death (and their possible role in it) is horribly disturbing subject matter, and far from life affirming. And yet the artwork itself, the amazing use of audio, and the
photography-let alone the gorgeous natural Russian countrside--are what taps into the "richness" that you're referring to.I think we're more in agreement than you claim. I just didn't quite articulate myself clearly enough.
- Witt0
ah! sorry, i may not have expressed myself clearly as well.
I was in disagree with the word "empty", not with your entire appreciation.
I read "emptiness" as "pointless" and as so many people use it in that sense sometimes to aesthetically appreciate life... I just got alarmed!
In my opinion, what makes that movie unique (like only a few others) is its psychological depth, of which russian literature and art were also masterly examples in the past: there's a stark contrast between those watery flat landscapes and empty buildings and the rich psychology of the characters, which alone goes well beyond the rudeness and cruelty of their lives.
You can perfectly distinguish the different strenght in character between those two brothers, the role of the father which automatically subjects the mother on the return. She that saves the apparently weaker boy in the beginning, ceases to exist when the father returns, and just pours wine. This is not by accident. And as that younger son proves to be the strongest in character as the story unfolds, fighting his father rudeness and not accepting him (his mother doesn't has the chance to do this), one gets the feeling that he's playing his mother role, which has no place because the father arrives and starts "training" his boys to be men away from home.
I don't really know that country to say if this impression of mine is even remotely correct, but i think this movie is about the overpowering rule of manly stenght in russian society.
anyway, I'm glad you like it too.
- kingjulien0
Witt, I enjoyed your analysis. Thank you.
- mattyd0
after watching the trailer my goal today is to find the movie and watch it.
looks absolutely stunning.
- kld0
*added to netflix queue