Father and Son

Aroview: A loose 'sequel' to dir. Sokurov's arthouse hit MOTHER AND SON, this again uses an oblique, dreamlike visual style, here for an exploration of filial bonds between a wounded army veteran and his son, a recent recruit.

As they train together and bond in their rooftop apartment, the lives of the characters seem to converge in a vein of homoeroticism, (noted by Western critics, though denied by Sokurov). Possibly they instead stand as symbols of Russian nationalism - many 'readings' are possible within the dir.'s enigmatic and intimate vision.

NZ International Film Festival 2004