Mystery and Toughness - Review of "The Return"

Desiree 2022-12-10 11:41:14

Borrowed five or six discs from a friend not long ago. This film called "Dad Can't Love You" was watched last by me. Because the poster on the disc was not the one of the two brothers rowing a boat that I see now, the Chinese title made me take it for granted that this is another film in a crowded family, and the camera rolls around in a narrow and dull field of view. Incomparable family ethics film (although I do not exclude this kind of film). However, after reading it. The stillness and coldness of the picture and the toughness and stubbornness of the characters were intertwined in my mind, and it lingered for a long time.
The plot of the film is not ostentatious, and the narrative structure is also the kind that is eloquent. A father who had been missing for 12 years traveled to a deserted island with his two sons. He overcame many difficulties, but the conflict between father and son continued to intensify, and finally ended in tragedy with a loud bang. But I can't deny that I am hopelessly in love with the pure, quiet style of photography and the tough, decisive, yet naive handling of the characters (especially the father).
Let’s talk about photography style first. At the beginning of the film, what appears in the camera is a ship that sank on the bottom of the sea, which makes people think: How did this ship sink? Will the characters in the film have anything to do with these ships? Immediately afterwards, a person jumped into the water, and then the camera showed the Ivan brothers and their companions on the diving platform, and the diving platform appeared abruptly on the sea wall, surrounded by sea, only one sea wall led to This diving platform. It should be said that the film creates a very mysterious atmosphere from the beginning, and the film's photography style plays a crucial role in creating this atmosphere: the main color of blue and gray is suitable for creating this atmosphere. After the opening paragraph, the film basically does not have any other characters or a single shot. It is all about describing the situation of the father and son on the journey. The empty roads, fields, beaches, islands and wooden houses on the way give people a quiet and empty feeling. a feeling of.
I still remember that on many trips, I will always be looking for the empty trails and dense forests, "Thousands of mountains birds fly away, thousands of people disappear", only the sound of birds is the company, which may be the reason for this film. The picture fits my aesthetic characteristics, so it will be unforgettable for me for a long time.
Secondly, my father's character is cold, tough, and unsmiling. All problems can be overcome, simply God incarnate. From the beginning to the end of the film, the film deliberately retains a strong sense of mystery for his father: why did he leave home for 12 years? Why return? What's in the iron box inside the wooden box? What is he going to do? All of this does not reveal a single answer until the end of the film. But, without a doubt, it's this deep sense of mystery that adds to the character's inexhaustible allure. The youngest son, Ivan, is completely unlike the innocent and innocent image set for the small characters like other films. He is stubborn and strong, but he is obviously naive, which forms a positive conflict with his father's character. And brother Andrew's character was easy-going and not distinctive at first, but after the tragedy, he seemed to grow up suddenly and became a father's character.
"Dad Can't Love You" won the Lion Award, the highest prize at the 60th Venice Film Festival in 2003, which is the best result of a Russian film since "Ivan's Childhood" won the Golden Lion 40 years ago. It is worth mentioning that this is the debut work of director Andre Vyajan Siff, and it has been so successful for the first time, and it has to be impressive. The director said that the film is a mystical examination of life. The rough beauty of the lakes and forests of the north adds flavor to this film about human nature.
All in all, this is a film not to be missed.

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Extended Reading

The Return quotes

  • [first lines]

    [on-screen caption: Sunday]

    [boy falls in the water, then floats up]

    Zavodila: Jump as we agreed! Who climbs down the ladder is a cowardly wanker.

    [swims to the shore]

    Boy on Tower: Go on, Vityok. You're next.

  • [last lines]

    Ivan: Look...

    [shows a photo to Andrey]

    Andrey: Hide it.

    [Ivan puts the photo back]

    Ivan: Andrey, my feet are wet.

    Andrey: Take your shoes off.