The Banished

In the opening scenes of the film, Mark, Nilson David, arrives at Alex’s house seeking help to extract a bullet from his arm. Due to his criminal affiliations and the risk of police inquiries, Mark is deeply concerned about seeking treatment at a hospital, fearing exposure that could jeopardize his safety. After the procedure, Mark begins to recover, and in the following days, Alex invites his wife, Vera, and their two children for a trip to his childhood home in the countryside, seeking a reprieve from their busy city life.

The peaceful setting is abruptly disturbed when Vera confides in Alex that she is pregnant, revealing that the unborn child is not his. This revelation causes a significant rift in their relationship, and although they try to maintain a semblance of normalcy for their children and the friends who visit, the tension between them becomes increasingly palpable. Vera’s feelings of estrangement and her fears that their son Kir might follow in their footsteps into a life of crime deepen her sense of despair, especially as she struggles with her own doubts about the pregnancy.

Alex, grappling with the situation, turns to his brother, Mark, for advice. On the way to meet Mark at the train station, Kir, their son, reveals that their young friend Robert had visited their house while Alex was away. This leads Alex to suspect that Robert might be the father of Vera’s baby. Vera’s emotional distance from Alex grows, and her fears for Kir’s future—worrying he might inherit their criminal tendencies—add to the family’s mounting difficulties.

In a desperate attempt to salvage their relationship, Alex convinces Vera that she must undergo an abortion, believing that once the unwanted pregnancy is ended, they might be able to rebuild their marriage. With the help of Mark’s criminal connections, they arrange for a doctor to perform the procedure discreetly at their home. The emotional toll is overwhelming, and after the abortion, Vera tragically commits suicide by overdosing on pain medication. The community quickly spreads gossip about the events, and as the family grieves, Mark suffers a serious heart attack. Despite medical advice, Mark attends Vera’s funeral, but tragically passes away before he can return home with Alex.

Devastated and alone in the city, Alex visits Robert’s house with the intent to harm him. While sitting in his car outside, he is unexpectedly approached by Robert, who invites him inside. As Alex reaches for his gun, he finds an envelope containing the pregnancy test results and a letter from Vera, which she had written on the back. The narrative then flashes back to reveal that Robert had previously visited Alex’s home while he was away, and that Vera had actually attempted to commit suicide the day before, but was saved. She then discovered she was pregnant and confided in Robert, insisting she had never truly had an affair—she believed the child to be Alex’s, though she felt their relationship lacked communication and intimacy.

The film explores themes of love, betrayal, desperation, and the tragic consequences of unresolved family issues, culminating in a somber reflection on the fragile nature of human relationships and the devastating toll of secrets kept hidden.

Last Updated: July 24, 2025 at 08:18