Banishment, The Russia
2007, 150min.
Prod.: Dmitry Lesnevsky, Scr.: Oleg Negin, Andrey Zvyagintsev (with participation of Artem Melkumyan, based on story The Laughing Matter by William Saroyan), Dir.: Andrey Zvyagintsev, Dir. of Phot.: Mikhail Krichman, Music: Andrey Dergachev, Arvo Pärt, Prod. design: Andrey Ponkratov, Sound: Andrey Dergachev, Edit.: Anna Mass
Cast: Konstantin Lavronenko, Maria Bonnevie, Aslexander Baluev, Maxim Shibaev, Katya Kulkina, Dmitry Ulianov, Alexey Vertkov.
A husband, wife and two children (a boy and a girl) come from an industrial city to the countryside, to the husband’s birthplace, to stay in his father’s old house. In contrast to the old setting (the city that brightens up the relations between the characters, that smooths the rough edges, and even creates some illusion of happiness and love), the new setting is Nature. It is a setting of breathtaking rolling hills, the bottom of a prehistoric sea, and fertile land, all lying in the ruins of dislike. It is sad even though it is proud. It doesn’t let on. It will demand great sacrifice. And no one will hold back the hand the father raises against his son. The voice crying out will not be heard. The son will not be replaced by the lamb. For the one who raises the knife has ears that can not hear, eyes that can not see, and a heart that can not feel. Yet his belief in the “law” of human pride is vehement and inexhaustible, as vehement as his remorse. The seed has been planted and the harvest must follow. This film is about all of us – kind, beautiful people in the tragic circumstances of hopelessness.
Awards
Cannes IFF, 2007 (Best Actor).
| Zvyagintsev, Andrey Andrey Zvyagintsev (born 1964, Novosibirsk)
After graduating from theatre school he worked in the theatre. In 1986, he moved to Moscow where he graduated from the acting department of the Moscow State Theatre School. Then he worked as an actor in independent theatre projects and acted in several films. In 2000, he made his debut as a television director of 3 episodes for the series Black Room for REN-TV. The Return, his feature debut received two Golden Lions at the Venice IFF for Best Film and Best Debut. The film won more than 40 international awards including the European Film Academy Discovery – Prix Fassbinder, the Russian Film Academy Award Golden Eagle for Best Film and Best Cinematography, a nomination for the HFPA Golden Globe in the category of Best Foreign Film, the Swedish Film Institute Award for Best Foreign Language Film, a nomination for a Cesar in the category of Best Foreign Film, a BBC World Cinema Award for Best Foreign Film, and the FIPRESCI Award for Best Foreign Language Film at Palm Springs IFF.
Filmography
Black Room (TV Series, 3 Episodes: Busido, Obscure, The Choice, 2000), The Return (2003), The Banishment (2007).
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