Reviews

This movie was an excellent example of Soviet and Russian cinema. I loved it. There were multiple layers of symbolism, excellent portrayals of historic Russian life in the country (v derevnye), and the clash of the modern Soviet world with the former ways of life. Some of the different symbols, such as the ancient tree, have already been described by other reviewers, but the ending of the movie is so compelling. The younger son, the one who accepts the modern world and who tries to get folks to move away, is floating through a fog, calling for anyone from Matyora to answer him. He is looking for his roots back to Mother Russia (Matyora), and he seems to realize what he has lost by covering it by millions of gallons of water for a hydro-electric project. But Matyora doesn't answer...