Izgnanie
2007 / 157m - Russia
Drama, Romance
2.5*/5.0*
The Banishment poster

Plot: Very and Alex undertake a trip to the countryside together with their two kids. There Vera tells Alex that she is pregnant again, but that the kid isn't his. Alex feels terrible about the situation, and he pushes Vera to undergo an abortion. He tells her that it's the only way their marriage can be saved, but Vera doesn't like the idea.

Watches

November 27, 2024

2.5*/5.0*

If you think of Russian arthouse, Zvyagintsev is probably a model director. The Banishment features a somewhat depressing setup, dreary landscapes, tragic romances, and a brooding score. It's also quite long and rather slow. But really, you should know that going into a film like this.

The score was by far my favorite part of the film, the stark and clean cinematography wasn't too bad either, but a bit generic. I didn't really care much for the characters nor the drama and the pacing became an issue during the second half, but Zvyagintsev is a talented director and if arthouse is your thing, this is one to watch.