Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev's marvellous debut, The Return, is a modern fable about two young brothers who are reunited with their long-lost father. It's a disturbing film that's full of surprises and throws questions at the audience. This, however, is what art is all about.
Teenager Andrey (Vladimir Garin) and his younger brother Vanya (Ivan Dobronravov) haven't seen their father (Konstantin Lavronenko) for more than a decade. When he suddenly returns, Andrey happily embraces his father's reappearance. Vanya, on the other, is full of doubts.
The boys are taken on a camping trip by their mysterious father, but they soon realise that he is far from what they imagined.
Winner of the prestigious Golden Lion best film award at last year's Venice International Film Festival, The Return is an eerie tale about a distorted family. It can equally be viewed as a thriller as the father's unpredictable behaviour is spine-tingling.
Zvyagintsev has an incredible visual sense, which makes this film one of the most stunningly shot pieces of the year.
The death of brilliant young star Garin, who drowned not long after the film was completed, adds a sad note to the film's tragic ending.