Rent The Banishment (2008)

A consistently excellent director - The Banishment review by TE

Zvyagintsev had already established his well deserved reputation with 'The Return' by the time he made this film. Both movies display the themes which have recurred in all his work: critique of contemporary Russian society; lack of effective communication between lovers; male stupidities; and emotional coldness towards children.

There is more narrative in 'The Banishment' than in his other films (it is based on a novel by William Saroyan). Thankfully Zvyagintsev avoids the use of flashbacks in favour of a straightforward story line plus a half hour 'prequel' sequence.

All of this is done with his usual flair for eye-catching settings and superb play of light and dark.

There will be blood…… - The Banishment review by CH

The Banishment based on a novel by William Sorayan, interpretation by Russian film maker  Zvagyntsev opens in a starkly silent  and claustrophobic industrial city, then moves to wide open grassland locations reminiscent of the paintings of American artist Andrew Wyeth. The story is an uneasy one, the unraveling of a marriage  that suddenly turns a sharp and unexpected corner, descending rapidly and inevitably to tragedy. Blood is thicker than water….the bloody theme opens the first chapter with the shady mafia bloodied brother……keeping the blood brothers family honour is what must be preserved and ultimately avenged.