The Island [Ostrov] (2006) Now Available On DVD

The Island (Ostrov) by Russian director Pavel Lounguine is now available on an English-friendly DVD. Writing from the Venice Film Festival, Deborah Young compares it to Andrei Zvyagintsev's otherworldly The Return and praises Andrey Zhegalov's (Transit) striking widescreen cinematography. Opus, writing from the Toronto festival, says Russian rock star Pyotr Mamonov's performance as the bearded monk Anatoly is excellent. AllDVD.ca provides us with the following synopsis:

WWII. The barge, on which Anatoly and his senior comrade Tikhon transport coal, is seized by a German patrol ship. Anatoly begs the Germans for mercy, and in an act of disloyalty he shoots his captain. The Germans leave the coward on the mined barge, but thanks to the help of the monks from a nearby monastery on an island, Anatoly survives... Years go by. The Elder Anatoly is respected for his just life and the really wonderful help which he gives to the islands visitors. However, the terrible sin of the murder he committed during the war does not give him peace.

european-films.net Boyd van Hoeij Review

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