Q:
Does it mean the festival success was pre-calculated?
A:
No, it wasn't. Though we are often told that we have borrowed
heavily from the aesthetics popular in the West, it's only a reflection
of my own and the DOP's taste rather than an attempt to please
festivals' selection committees. And I hope that those who select
films understood it and saw not only the personal drama of a father-son
relationship in my film, but also its deeper meanings.
Q:
What meanings do you see in your film?
A:
I vowed that I wasn't going to talk about what I myself see in
my film. I want to leave the viewer one-to-one with the movie.
I would like the viewers to decide for themselves what they don't
like about the film, what they don't understand in it, why they
like itÑwithout the director's commentary getting in the way.
Q:
After the screening, many critics compared the feel of your film
with that of Tarkovsky's work. What do you think about it?
A:
For a Russian film director it is impossible not to feel Tarkovsky's
overreaching influence, because he, perhaps, is the most profound
individual in our cinema. So, I'm flattered that the critics noticed
such similarities, perhaps, in the way time flows in my film.
However, I did not try to imitate Tarkovsky or quote from him.
Q:
There are many biblical motifs in The Return, though on the whole
it wouldn't be right to say that the film is about religiosity.
Why?
A: One shouldn't speak out loud about sacral and important
meanings because as soon as we start blabbering about them, all
that is magic and sacral immediately evaporates. One should not
talk about but suggest what is of real importance. That's what
I tried to do in my film.
Q:
Do you think the return of the prodigal father to his family had
any meaning and did it help your characters?
A:
No meeting is meaningless in its essence. If it is not necessary,
it is simply not going to happen. This is not just a personal
story which allows for all sorts of things to happen by chance.
Everything here has a meaning, everything is predetermined. Has
this meeting done any good to anyone? If we see the meeting as
something sacral then everyone needs it equally. We can draw a
parallel with an Eastern tradition here: a meeting is as important
for the teacher as it is for the student. However, to be honest
with you, I wouldn't like to go on about it. You are asking questions
which require either avoiding the answer or getting deeper into
the film, and I've already explained I wouldn't like to do it.
Q: Then I'll ask you the most superficial question I can think
of. What is in the box which is the goal of the father and son's
journey?
A:
It's a secret. In fact, it's of no importance really. It contains
some mystery which disappears together with the mysterious father.
