Vozvrashcheniye (2003)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Andrei Zvyagintsev

Writers:

Vladimir Moiseyenko (writer)
Aleksandr Novototsky (writer)

Release Date:

25 June 2003 (Russia)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In the remote Russian wilderness, two brothers face a range of new, conflicting emotions when their father--a man they only know through a single photograph--resurfaces.

Plot Keywords:

Russian | Father | Return | Island | Brother

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 28 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Vladimir Garin	...	Andrey
Ivan Dobronravov	...	Ivan
Konstantin Lavronenko	...	Father
Natalya Vdovina	...	Mother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yelizaveta Aleksandrova	...	Waitress
Lazar Dubovik	...	Hooligan
Lyubov Kazakova	...	Devushka v zerkalakh
Galina Petrova	...	Grandmother
Aleksei Suknovalov	...	Zavodila
Andrei Sumin	...	Man at Port

Directed by
Andrei Zvyagintsev		(as Andrej Zvjagintsev)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Vladimir Moiseyenko		writer (as Vladimir Moïseënko)
Aleksandr Novototsky		writer (as Aleksandr Novototski)

Produced by
Andrew Colton	....	executive producer
Yelena Kovalyova	....	executive producer
Dmitri Lesnevsky	....	producer

Original Music by
Andrei Dergachyov		(as Andrej Djorgatsjev)

Cinematography by
Mikhail Krichman

Film Editing by
Vladimir Mogilevsky

Casting by
Genriyetta Bagdasarova
Galina Dovgal

Production Design by
Zhanna Pakhomova

Costume Design by
Anna Barthuly

Makeup Department
Galya Ponomaryova	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
Andrei Khudyakov	....	sound
Dmitri Nagorny	....	sound re-recording mixer

Visual Effects by
Kirill Bobrov	....	digital effects artist
Dmitry Tokoyakov	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Vladimir Sevostyanikhin	....	stunt coordinator

Production Companies

• Ren Film

Distributors

• Frenetic Films (2003-2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Lucky Red (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Océan Films (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2004) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Kino International (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Lighthouse Pictures (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Movienet (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• UGC Films (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Barbar Film (2004) (Turkey) (all media)
• Gutek Film (2004) (Poland) (all media)
• Kino Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Pelicanfilms (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• With Cinema (2004) (Korea) (all media)
• Atlantic Film (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Contact Film (????) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (????) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United King Films (????) (Israel) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Cinemateka

Also Known As:

The Return (International: English title) (USA)
Возвращение (Russia)
ïÔÅÃ (Russia) (working title)

Runtime:

105 min | Turkey:99 min (TV version)

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-11 | USA:Unrated | Spain:13 | Australia:PG | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Gulf of Finland, Russia

Company:

Ren Film

Trivia:

Actor Vladimir Garin died on 25 June 2003 (shortly after the shooting of the movie was completed) in the lake not far from the one in which the movie was shot. The news of his death was postponed until much later after the movie's premiere and subsequent success in the Venice Film Festival.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Ivan is sitting in the car, the camera pans around the car (before we see him grab the binoculars and begin to use them) - as it pans past the triangular car window you can see the camera reflected in it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards (2004) (TV)

gorgeous and disturbing film about growing up

Two pre-teen boys are shocked when their father returns home to them and their mother, after being inexplicably away for 12 years. He takes them on a road trip the next day. If you've seen the incredible but spoiling trailer for this movie, you know what happens in the last 10 minutes. Apart from the frustrating promotional trailer, this movie is exceptional and is one of the most strikingly beautiful films I've seen in a long time. The child actors are so incredible it is almost discomforting. The cinematography is simply breathtaking. "The Return" would make for a perfect double feature with the equally gorgeous and disturbing Italian film "I'm Not Scared" (aka "Io non ho paura"). Both films explore the fear and courage that results when children are suddenly faced with unknown horrors of the adult world. My Rating: 9/10.