It's got an enchantingly beautiful cinematography, it's unassuming, it's kafkaesque.
It's tricky to delve into the film past its face value, because that way, you might realize it's trying to tell you a whole different story. I, for one, took it more literally because I didn't think I could place the subtext appropriately. After digging up one in-depth analysis or two, that turned out to be a good call: the movie is apparently an allegory about Russia the motherland (wouldn't have guessed that in a lifetime!), folkloric identity, old vs new ideology and all. Bearing that concept in mind, the meaning of the movie expands consequentially. But supposing we're using my initial understanding, I thought it was about a journey of self-redifinition. The filmmakers said it themselves, it's a visual journal.
Every interaction feels so organic. They don't even bother to try and overdo it. Zero amount of bullshit sappy/cliché moments. The brothers go back and forth—sometimes simultaneously—between fiery bickering and having each other's back. The father is an unsympathetic enigma.
I like it. It's good. It can be too outlandish for my personal taste at times is all. Especially prior to knowing about its root analogy. 7/10.
P.S.: RIP Vladimir Garin, died at 16, shortly before the world premiere of this movie.
It's tricky to delve into the film past its face value, because that way, you might realize it's trying to tell you a whole different story. I, for one, took it more literally because I didn't think I could place the subtext appropriately. After digging up one in-depth analysis or two, that turned out to be a good call: the movie is apparently an allegory about Russia the motherland (wouldn't have guessed that in a lifetime!), folkloric identity, old vs new ideology and all. Bearing that concept in mind, the meaning of the movie expands consequentially. But supposing we're using my initial understanding, I thought it was about a journey of self-redifinition. The filmmakers said it themselves, it's a visual journal.
Every interaction feels so organic. They don't even bother to try and overdo it. Zero amount of bullshit sappy/cliché moments. The brothers go back and forth—sometimes simultaneously—between fiery bickering and having each other's back. The father is an unsympathetic enigma.
I like it. It's good. It can be too outlandish for my personal taste at times is all. Especially prior to knowing about its root analogy. 7/10.
P.S.: RIP Vladimir Garin, died at 16, shortly before the world premiere of this movie.