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The Banishment Reviews

2008

60
from 915 members

Loosely based on a short story by American novelist William Saroyan, The Banishment is a powerful and atmospheric portrait of an unravelling marriage. Having left the city, Alex and Vera set up home with their children in a remote but idyllic-seeming country house. But then one day Vera makes a shocking confession, setting in .. Read more

Starring	Konstantin Lavronenko, Aleksandr Baluyev, Maxim Shibaev, Maria Bonnevie
Director	Andrei Zvyagintsev
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

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Critic's review of The Banishment
View all (1)
- Not even breathtaking photography and a remarkably precise and poetic approach to mise-en-scÃne can save Andrey... read more on Time Out
- 50648
- - Dave Calhoun
  - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:21
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of The Banishment
View all members' reviews (22)
- - 23
  - 4
  Shocking
  
  Dont bother its two and half hours of your life you wont get back.
  
  It says based on a sort story, I can tell they dont say anything hardly, and then ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 684157
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Sheffield
  - 09 Jan 2009 at 10:50
Most recent members' reviews of The Banishment
View all members' reviews (22)
- - 0
  - 1
  Amazing images, obscure plot
  
  This is the second film from this Russian director. I haven’t seen his earlier effort but he looks like a man to watch. The cinematography is ravishing, if... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1008202
- - Zamy
  - 552 reviews
  - London
  - 22 Jun 2011 at 09:45
- - 2
  - 1
  An intriguing film that challenges the viewer (but with a misleading title)
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Many reviewers miss the point of this film. The clues are in paintings and in the images in the film itself. It is a reworking of more than one story from the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 997745
- - a customer
  - 27 May 2011 at 22:15
- - 0
  - 3
  I will now buy a copy
  
  I was stunded by the photograpy. there is
  
  hardly a shot that I would't have been
  
  pleased to have taken as a still!
  
  I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 975743
- - a customer
  - Darkest Worcestershire
  - 23 Mar 2011 at 22:24
- - 1
  - 1
  The Banishment
  
  Unfolding like the skins of the onion, this one makes your eyes water. We do not fall far from the tree, the sins of our father, a loveless marriage, and the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 870649
- - a customer
  - Scotland
  - 09 Mar 2010 at 11:28
- - 2
  - 1
  Boring
  
  Long time getting started then crawls along at a snail's pace. Not good. Unsure how the male lead won an award?
  
  Report this review
- 837732
- - Barbara Elston
  - Wadhurst, England
  - 07 Dec 2009 at 08:03
- - 2
  - 0
  The Banishment
  
  found this quite a disturbingly dark film...loved the scenery views but the actual story line was too deep and depressing for me
  
  Report this review
- 784822
- - Gemini1968
  - 16 reviews
  - Littlehampton
  - 16 Jul 2009 at 13:08
- - 1
  - 0
  Banish your peace of mind.
  
  The considered pace of the camerawork belies the speed at which this story moves.
  
  From the family's initial move to the country to the Konstantin... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 784754
- - Mysterioso
  - 5 reviews
  - Belfast
  - 16 Jul 2009 at 11:19
- - 3
  - 0
  Heavy and unusual
  
  'The Return' is one of my favourite films of recent years. I spotted all the warning reviews on this site for this film but thought someone always says... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 782835
- - LightFantastic
  - 3 reviews
  - Edinburgh
  - 12 Jul 2009 at 09:20
- - 3
  - 0
  Waste of Time
  
  Sooo boring!! I was sure something exciting was going to happen, but absolutley nothing! I don't understand why the film was made.
  
  Report this review
- 780418
- - matnreb
  - 3 reviews
  - Stanley
  - 06 Jul 2009 at 17:53
- - 3
  - 0
  Painfully slow.
  
  Pretentious, slow, depressing, pointless and very boring. If you like long silent scenes with sulky faces and no dialogue, then you'll like this. The only... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 774575
- - Zippo
  - 1 review
  - Sheffield
  - 22 Jun 2009 at 18:44
View all members' reviews (22)

- - 23
  - 4
  Shocking
  
  Dont bother its two and half hours of your life you wont get back.
  
  It says based on a sort story, I can tell they dont say anything hardly, and then ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 684157
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Sheffield
  - 09 Jan 2009 at 10:50
- - 11
  - 1
  For fans of The Return
  
  Clearly most of the reviewers here have missed the point of this film, or they quite simply dont understand it. If you know nothing of this director or his ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 700838
- - DaveyHall
  - 8 reviews
  - Winchester
  - 03 Feb 2009 at 10:31
- - 8
  - 1
  waste of time
  
  what a plodder. i usually enjoy foriegn films as much as others, as was the case with 'tell no one' this film however was awfull. unless of course i ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 693548
- - a customer
  - Glasgow
  - 23 Jan 2009 at 00:29
- - 7
  - 0
  Banishment
  
  The worst film ever,dont punish yourself
  
  Report this review
- 688481
- - a customer
  - Warwick
  - 15 Jan 2009 at 17:23
- - 7
  - 0
  Return for more
  
  This is not a mainstream film, hence the bad reviews here. If you feed on Hollywood films, then I'm not surprised you may miss the point of this beautifully... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 710080
- - a customer
  - London
  - 16 Feb 2009 at 21:33
- - 6
  - 0
  its good!
  
  Something for those who like ambitious French-style cinema than american movies. Little bit of Drama and Psychological analysis.
  
  Lack of fast action ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 687380
- - a customer
  - London
  - 13 Jan 2009 at 22:22
- - 3
  - 0
  Painfully slow.
  
  Pretentious, slow, depressing, pointless and very boring. If you like long silent scenes with sulky faces and no dialogue, then you'll like this. The only... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 774575
- - Zippo
  - 1 review
  - Sheffield
  - 22 Jun 2009 at 18:44
- - 3
  - 0
  Waste of Time
  
  Sooo boring!! I was sure something exciting was going to happen, but absolutley nothing! I don't understand why the film was made.
  
  Report this review
- 780418
- - matnreb
  - 3 reviews
  - Stanley
  - 06 Jul 2009 at 17:53
- - 3
  - 0
  Heavy and unusual
  
  'The Return' is one of my favourite films of recent years. I spotted all the warning reviews on this site for this film but thought someone always says... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 782835
- - LightFantastic
  - 3 reviews
  - Edinburgh
  - 12 Jul 2009 at 09:20
- - 3
  - 1
  A quiet masterpiece
  
  I had to write a review for this film in answer to the idiotic complaints from a number of other 'reviewers' who obviously rented this two and a half ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 748649
- - ronster100
  - 11 reviews
  - Leeds
  - 27 Apr 2009 at 11:09

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Critic's review
- Not even breathtaking photography and a remarkably precise and poetic approach to mise-en-scÃne can save Andrey... read more on Time Out
- 50648
- - Dave Calhoun
  - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:21

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Banishment
  
  Loosely based on a short story by American novelist William Saroyan, The Banishment is a powerful and atmospheric portrait of an unravelling marriage. Having left the city, Alex and Vera set up home with their children in a remote but idyllic-seeming country house. But then one day Vera makes a ...