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Trailer+1 trailer

The Return

2003Movie1 h 51 min

DramaMystery
88
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Rotten Tomatoes95%93%

A profoundly sad, moving drama movie about growing up and family, with standout direction and performances.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing

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Not for laughs, scares or comfort.

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Story

Two young brothers in contemporary Russia are reunited with a father they know only from an old photograph after his sudden return from a long absence. With their mother’s reluctant consent, they set out on a remote trip that quickly becomes an uneasy test of authority, trust, and masculinity. As the journey moves deeper into the wilderness, the fragile bonds between father and sons are pushed to their limits.

Feels like

  • Russian Cinema
  • Estranged Family
  • Coming of Age
  • Psychological Drama
  • Father-Son Relationship
  • Melancholic
  • Brothers
  • Philosophical
  • Slow Burn

Cast

5 of 5

Crew

Directed by
Andrey Zvyagintsev
Written by
Aleksandr Novototskiy-Vlasov, Vladimir Moiseenko
Produced by
Dmitry Lesnevsky
Music by
Andrey Dergachev

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 25, 2003 · 1 h 51 min · Drama, Mystery

Released
June 25, 2003
Runtime
1 h 51 min
Genres
Drama, Mystery
Original language
Russian
Made in
Russia
Box office
$8 million
Available in
26 countries

Tropes

Decoy Protagonist, Calling the Old Man Out, Ax-Crazy +9

  • Decoy Protagonist
  • Calling the Old Man Out
  • Ax-Crazy
  • Character Development
  • The Cassandra
  • "Well Done, Son" Guy
  • Audience Surrogate
  • Mysterious Past
  • Peer Pressure Makes You Evil
  • Promotion to Parent
  • The Un-Reveal
  • Alternate Character Interpretation

12 of 20 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Return?"

Questions about The Return

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Return?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Return from Google Play Movies and YouTube. It streams in 15 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The Return worth watching?

88
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 88 (IMDb 7.9 and Rotten Tomatoes 95%).

Is The Return okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is The Return plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is The Return in English?

Russian

No, it was made in Russian.

What tropes does The Return use?

Decoy ProtagonistCalling the Old Man OutAx-CrazyCharacter DevelopmentThe Cassandra"Well Done, Son" GuyAudience SurrogateMysterious PastPeer Pressure Makes You EvilPromotion to ParentThe Un-RevealAlternate Character Interpretationand 8 more

TV Tropes lists 20 tropes for it, including Decoy Protagonist, Calling the Old Man Out, and Ax-Crazy.