Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

each occasion when I saw it, I perceived it as a sermon. about God and His love for humankind. remembering Tarkovsky and his universe, the tradition of Orthodox Church and the parenthood in today society. and this did it more than a beautiful film. it did an useful one. for the science to remind basic things who defines the life. for the image of sacrifice . for the clear and precise definition of love. for the remind of the traditional status of father in family. for the challenges who define the sons. a Russian film. by a great contemporary director. this is all. and it is enough because it could not be reduced at a cinema school or national sensibility. its message is universal and it is defined by the force of honest , clear sermon status. admirable work, it is useful for the viewer in profound senses.

It's got an enchantingly beautiful cinematography, it's unassuming, it's kafkaesque.It's tricky to delve into the film past its face value, because that way, you might realize it's trying to tell you a whole different story. I, for one, took it more literally because I didn't think I could place the subtext appropriately. After digging up one in-depth analysis or two, that turned out to be a good call: the movie is apparently an allegory about Russia the motherland (wouldn't have guessed that in a lifetime!), folkloric identity, old vs new ideology and all. Bearing that concept in mind, the meaning of the movie expands consequentially. But supposing we're using my initial understanding, I thought it was about a journey of self-redifinition. The filmmakers said it themselves, it's a visual journal.Every interaction feels so organic. They don't even bother to try and overdo it. Zero amount of bullshit sappy/cliché moments. The brothers go back and forth—sometimes simultaneously—between fiery bickering and having each other's back. The father is an unsympathetic enigma.I like it. It's good. It can be too outlandish for my personal taste at times is all. Especially prior to knowing about its root analogy. 7/10.P.S.: RIP Vladimir Garin, died at 16, shortly before the world premiere of this movie.

The Return is a very interesting film in that it is so close to being so many things it is not. What I mean by that is, the film seems as if at any moment it could turn into something entirely different. As a viewer I was left feeling slightly on edge or rather nervous for most of the film wondering if it was going to take a turn for the good, bad, violent, paranormal, etc.. There was a strange aura about the film, the thought that something unexpected was likely to happen. I felt as if at any moment the father and sons could have a break through and become close or they could murder each other. This is what gives it its psychological thriller genre. After watching the film once it would be interesting to go back and watch it again analyzing the interactions between father and sons knowing what happened in the end. Do the interactions seem more earnest or hostile?

This film is about two boys who meets their father for the first time in twelve years, as their father arrives home unannounced."The Return" explores the relationship between the father and their two boys, who haven't met in twelve years. The pace is slow, but it is engaging because of the dynamics between the characters. The father arrives home and then goes onto a trip with their children, much to the mystery of the boys and also the viewers. The mysterious circumstances continue, creating suspense as viewers hope for closure. The characters and the dynamics between them are interesting as well.The younger son, Ivan stands out because he is the strong willed and bossy one. His emotions take a U-turn at the end, yet it is only briefly portrayed on the screen. The director might have left the emotions unsaid, as a picture is worth more than a thousand words. Still, I would have liked a bit more screen time for the younger son and the viewers to feel the emotions.