Elena (Andrei Zvyagintsev, 2011)

7.5/10
Andrei Zvyagintsev's The Return was an atmospheric, chilling family drama. Elena sticks even closer to the family theme, about a woman named Elena, an older woman married to (but mostly playing housekeeper for) an even older, rich man, her parasitic son's family, and how she's going to come up with the money he needs to put his son (Elena's grandson) through college. If the story isn't the freshest thing you've ever heard, the movie succeeds on the strength of Nadezhda Markina's excellent performance in the title role and Zvyagintsev's subtle direction. Philip Glass' score is also a big strength.

The Return (Andrei Zvyagintsev, 2003)

7/10
The Russian film from 2003, not the Sarah Michelle Gellar one from 2006. I watched this primarily because of its extensive comparisons to Tarkovsky but I think they're only there superficially. The direction is stoic and the film is visually exquisite but I don't think it comes close to the allegorical levels Tarkovsky usually works on. The story, about the father of two young boys coming back into their lives for the first time in 12 years and taking them on a trip apparently designed to test their manhood, is interesting but I didn't walk away feeling blown away like many people seemed to. It was never boring, but I was left wanting more I guess.