The Island

When a Russian barge is captured by the Germans in 1942, a young worker, Anatoli, is forced to kill his captain by the Nazis. Thirty years later, Anatoli, now a world-worn old man living like a hermit on a remote island monastery, spends most of his time alone with his unremitting guilt, while the island’s locals have come to see him as some sort of prophet and healer. A slow and sometimes testing parable of sin, faith and redemption, Pavel Lungin’s film escapes impenetrable tedium thanks mainly to a captivating central performance by former Russian music luminary Pyotr Mamonov (one-time frontman of experimental rockers, Zvuki Mu). A curious set of supporting characters ensures that the film isn’t without a subtle sense of humour, while Andrei Zhegalov’s stark photography radiates an eerie and mesmerising beauty throughout.

Lee Griffiths

Anticipation:

Enjoyment:

In Retrospect: