Often impressive but at times incoherent film by Andrey Zvyagintsev, a Russian admirer of Ingmar Bergman. His more recent film Leviathan is more clearly focused and therefore, in my view, better.

My Movie Rating: 8 / 10

This is a challenging film that obviously not everyone will like. It is very bleak and does not follow mainstream movie conventions. There are many questions that remain unanswered. The performances are top notch as is the cinematography. It's like a visual poem. Life is like this... there are often no simple answers.

My Movie Rating: 10 / 10

I don't fully get it. There's so much that remains unanswered. The performance of the younger boy is great, the story does have potential, but is simply too weird for me.

See my extensive review at BA Reviews.

My Movie Rating: 3 / 10

I don't really understand this movie. What was the purpose? Who was the father? Why did he behave like this? This is a good but very weird movie.

My Movie Rating: 6 / 10

Time to eat some crow. I watched this film again in relaxed circumstances, without my preconceptions dictating its unfolding. It is a beautifully and carefully made film. It doesn't matter where the father came from or what he is up to. In life, young boys are often in situations where parents actions remain mysterious. This film is gripping on its own terms and aesthetically consistent.

On first viewing, I missed the detail of the photo the boys find at the very end. Heh, I'm not going to tell.

My Movie Rating: 9 / 10

I thought this was a powerful movie, well made.

My Movie Rating: 9 / 10