"Frenchman"... the **other** "Vozvraschenie" - Victor Khomenko

Films/DVD Asylum

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"Frenchman"... the other "Vozvraschenie"

A father returns after many years... his two boys have grown up without seeing him. The opening of the Russian film "Frantsuz" (Frenchman) strikes a familiar chord. There must be something in that mysterious Russian soul that makes these stories popular, powerful and poignant. And there must be more than one such "something", as these stories are so different from one another.
Written by a famous Russian/Georgian director Georgy Danelia, and directed apparently by his sister (judging by her last name... I have no other clue at the moment), the movie goes straight to the heart of that soul. It cuts the life down to its bare bones, with situations so simple they seem to be drawn with a single stroke of a chalk on a rough plastered wall, and yet so deep as to touch our fundamental emotions. This merciless simplicity is like a narrow dagger to the heart - leaving behind a tiny yet deadly wound.
One would not expect an easy relationship between the long-missing father and his two boys, set in the early post-WWII, Russian small town. We are talking more than just generation difference here... it is the incredible abyss of different life experiences that they have to deal with. To the boys the war is subject of games and role playing, to their father it is a deep wound he carries both in his body and his soul. The war also forged the father into a deeply human figure, with crisp emotions and strong sense of goodness... something his boys are only beginning to discover. Without realizing it, they need him more than he needs them, and all their rebelious energy must erupt into something meaningful in the end.
The movie ends suddenly and almost anti-cimatically, to a sober and quiet, natter-of-factly narration that sends a distinct and not-too-unexpected chill down our spines... like an ancient drama this story could not possibly have good ending.
The two movies could not have been more different, inspite of the similarity in their opening scenes, and their unhappy endings. And yet something definitely unites them, like two views of the same beautiful object... a bit more from this side, a totally different one from that angle. For the object of human soul, its roots, maturity, emotions and struggle for better life is the fundamental unifying factor in both.
"Vozvraschenie" was monumental and almost unforgiving in its push. There was hidden physical pain in it. In "Frantsuz" it is love that is hidden, that is about to burst into open.
Compared against the huge canvas of the Vozvraschenie, this film looks almost like a tiny Chardin painting, so short and delicate and yet so full of unexpressed emotions, unsaid words.
Two different looks at that (put your favorite cliche here... mysterious, tragic, deep, suffering... ) Russian soul...
Easily one of the better 78 short minutes you will ever spend at the movies. Available at Netflix.

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Topic - "Frenchman"... the **other** "Vozvraschenie" - Victor Khomenko 20:34:38 01/13/06 (7)

I think I"ve seen the Vovra one but can't be sure: what's it's "anglified" name? nt - tinear 06:47:26 01/14/06 (6)

The Return - Victor Khomenko 06:50:40 01/14/06 (5)

Re: The Return - patrickU 07:28:02 01/14/06 (4)

Haunts you? For God's sake don't see - tinear 16:44:35 01/14/06 (0)

Then you will likely like the Frenchman - Victor Khomenko 07:46:58 01/14/06 (2)

Re: Then you will likely like the Frenchman - patrickU 08:22:33 01/15/06 (0)

Re: Then you will likely like the Frenchman - patrickU 10:57:26 01/14/06 (0)

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