The film shows two brothers approaching puberty who are challenged by a father they neither know nor love. The problems arising in a father – son relationship are shown against the perfect backdrop of a lonely lakeside landscape. With great psychological sensibility the director sketches the individual character of the characters with great psychological sensitivity. This filmic masterpiece is rounded off by outstanding acting by the main characters and finely composed scenes.
13th FilmFestival Cottbus
Festival of East European Cinema
04.11.2003 to 08.11.2003
Cottbus
Awards
The Return
Directed by:
2003
More about the festival
In the most dense and concentrated manner imaginable, the Russian director Andrej Swaginzew tells the story of the battle between authority and rebellion, of the conflict between a father and his two sons. The film that has been awarded several prices – among others two Golden Lions in Venice, for the best debut and the best film respectively, and the John Templeton European Film of the Year Award 2003 (awarded by the churches) – is now shown in German cinemas. “The Return” is also Film of the Month (April 2004), chosen by the Protestant film jury.
Roland Rust, as astute a film critic as he is festival director, hit the nail right on the head when he chose Russian cinema as the focus of the 13th Cottbus Festival of East European Films, scheduled 4-8 November 2003. All three of the competition awards for feature films went to Russian directors, in addition to a special prize in the short film competition. And both the FIPRESCI (International Critics) and the Ecumenical Juries doubled up on the same opinions of the International Jury...
