The Return (2003)
(Vozvrashchenie, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Russia 2003, 105 min., 35mm, Russian w/subtitles)
Andrey Zvyagintsev. The debut feature of celebrated director Andrey Zvyagintsev (Loveless, Leviathan) earns its place in the pantheon of great Russian cinema. Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival, the film is a mixture of psychological thriller and road movie, telling the story of two young brothers who must cope with the sudden and unexplained return of their father after a twelve-year absence. The three embark on a road trip that becomes a background for self-discovery and the destruction of deeply rooted emotional investments. Straightforward yet satisfyingly layered, The Return combines deep psychological exploration with bold statements about the trials of manhood.
Note later start time.