The Banishment

The Banishment

Year: 2018

Runtime: 157 min

Language: Russian

Director: Andrei Zvyagintsev

Echo Score: 73
Drama

A couple seeks respite from city life with a peaceful retreat to the countryside. However, their idyllic getaway soon reveals hidden tensions and long-held secrets within their relationship. As they become increasingly isolated, the boundaries of their reality begin to dissolve, forcing them to confront the complexities of their bond and the universal desire for human connection.

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Timeline & Setting – The Banishment (2018)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Banishment (2018). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events of the film unfold in contemporary times, reflecting the realities and pressures of modern relationships and familial struggles. While specific historical markers are absent, the themes explored resonate with universal experiences of love, loss, and longing.

Location

countryside, city

The countryside serves as a backdrop for Alex and Vera's nostalgic trip, evoking a sense of tranquility and simpler times. It is known for its serene landscapes and is contrasted sharply with the pressures of urban life, represented by the bustling city where Alex and Mark navigate their troubled existence.

🏡 Countryside 🌆 City

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:56

Main Characters – The Banishment (2018)

Meet the key characters of The Banishment (2018), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alex

Alex grapples with his feelings of betrayal and responsibility as he uncovers the truth about Vera's pregnancy. He is portrayed as a conflicted figure, torn between his emotional turmoil and the societal expectations of masculinity. His desperation leads him down a dark path as he attempts to reconcile his relationships amid chaos.

👨‍👧 Fatherhood 😢 Betrayal ⚔️ Revenge

Vera

Vera represents the heart of the emotional conflict in the film, struggling with feelings of isolation and despair. Her journey is marked by tragedy as she faces the consequences of her situation, ultimately leading to her heartbreaking choice. Vera's character embodies the struggle for autonomy in a suffocating environment.

👩‍👧‍👦 Motherhood 💔 Tragedy 😰 Isolation

Mark

Mark serves as both a protector and a catalyst for the unfolding drama, embodying the tensions between familial duty and personal desire. His character is deeply entwined with themes of loyalty and regret, as he tries to support Alex while grappling with his own health and emotional struggles.

🛡️ Protector ⚖️ Loyalty 🥀 Regret

Kir

Kir, Alex's son, unwittingly becomes a bearer of secrets, revealing the troubling dynamics within the family. His innocence contrasts sharply with the adult challenges surrounding him, highlighting the impact of adult decisions on the younger generation. Kir's presence serves as a reminder of the stakes involved in the adults' choices.

👶 Innocence 📖 Secrets 😟 Consequences

Robert

Robert is pivotal to the unraveling of Vera and Alex's marriage, as the secret father of Vera’s unborn child. His appearance adds complexity to the narrative, representing both a source of comfort and a threat to Alex’s established life. Robert's character embodies the tensions of friendship and betrayal.

🤝 Friendship ⚡ Conflict 🌪️ Betrayal

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:56

Major Themes – The Banishment (2018)

Explore the central themes of The Banishment (2018), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Heartbreak

The theme of heartbreak permeates the film, stemming from betrayal and unfulfilled desires within relationships. Vera's revelation about her pregnancy and its true paternity leads to emotional upheaval, spiraling into tragic consequences for the family. This theme is accentuated by the characters’ inability to communicate and connect meaningfully.

🚨 Desperation

Desperation drives the decisions of the characters, particularly seen in Alex's coercion of Vera for an abortion. The choices made under pressure illustrate the lengths individuals will go to in order to regain control over their tumultuous lives. Ultimately, this desperation results in irrevocable loss and regret.

😞 Grief

Grief acts as a powerful undertone, especially following Vera's tragic death and Mark's heart attack. The aftermath reveals the profound impact of loss on the family structure, emphasizing the darkness that follows unforeseen tragedies. The characters' mourning processes illustrate differing reactions to loss and the associated turmoil.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:56

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Dramas about family secrets in rural isolation like The Banishment

Stories where a peaceful rural escape becomes the stage for devastating family revelations.If you were captivated by the way The Banishment uses a countryside retreat to unravel a family's secrets, you'll find similar stories here. These movies feature couples or families whose idyllic escapes are shattered by long-held truths, betrayal, and tragic outcomes, all set against a backdrop of rural isolation.

sombertenseoppressivegrievingatmosphericisolatedtragic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern typically involves a family or couple moving to a rural location to escape their past or find peace. The isolation and change of scenery, instead of providing solace, act as a pressure cooker, forcing hidden tensions, infidelities, and trauma to the surface, often culminating in a tragic climax.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a focus on the disintegration of family bonds in isolated settings. They are united by a somber mood, a steady pacing that builds tension, and the central theme of a idyllic facade cracking under the weight of dark secrets, resulting in heavy emotional consequences.

Slow burn dramas about marital strife like The Banishment

Character-driven dramas where a relationship unravels under the weight of unspoken truths.For viewers who appreciated the heavy, methodical exploration of a relationship's end in The Banishment, this collection features similar movies. These are slow burn, character-focused dramas where marital tensions, betrayal, and grief lead to a bleak and heartbreaking conclusion.

sombermelancholicdesperategrievingtenseheavyemotional

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a central relationship as it deteriorates. Through a steady, often dialogue-heavy pace, the film exposes the fault lines in the partnership. A key revelation or series of secrets acts as a catalyst, pushing the characters toward a point of no return, leaving them in a state of grief and isolation.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared commitment to exploring the painful, slow-motion collapse of a relationship. They prioritize emotional realism over plot twists, featuring high emotional weight, a dark tone, and a pacing that allows the audience to feel the accumulating despair alongside the characters.

Unlock the Full Story of The Banishment

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The Banishment Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Banishment, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Banishment Summary

The Banishment Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Banishment with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Banishment Timeline

The Banishment Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Banishment that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Banishment Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Banishment

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