The Banishment

The Banishment

Year: 2007

Runtime: 158 mins

Language: Russian

Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev

Drama

While vacationing at his childhood home in the countryside, a husband is blindsided when his wife announces she is pregnant—but the baby is not his. The revelation forces the couple to confront betrayal, with the story probing whether they will seek revenge or find a path to forgiveness.

The Banishment (2007) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Banishment (2007) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the quiet lull of a countryside retreat, Alex brings his family back to the house of his childhood, a place where the rhythm of the seasons once promised simplicity. The rolling fields and weather‑worn homestead form a stark contrast to the tangled lives the characters carry with them, setting a tone that feels both nostalgic and unsettling. The idyllic setting acts as a silent witness to the fragile equilibrium of a marriage that has settled into routine, hinting that beneath the pastoral calm lies an emotional storm waiting to break.

When Vera shares news that shatters the couple’s expectations—a pregnancy that cannot be hers, at least not in the way they imagined—their world tilts on its axis. The revelation unfolds in a domestic sphere populated by two young children, old friends, and lingering ties to a past that refuses to stay buried. The film’s atmosphere leans heavily on restrained tension, allowing the audience to sense the weight of unspoken doubts and the pressure of maintaining appearances while internal doubts fester.

Against this backdrop, Alex finds himself seeking counsel from his brother Mark, a figure whose own history hints at a life lived on the edges of the law. Their conversations, set against the backdrop of the countryside’s enduring silence, draw out questions of loyalty, pride, and the lengths one might go to protect a fragile family. Meanwhile, the presence of Kir, an old acquaintance, adds another layer of complexity, suggesting that the past relationships and unresolved grievances may influence the choices ahead.

The story invites viewers to linger in the space between betrayal and redemption, letting the mood of the landscape and the subtle shifts in character dynamics suggest the possible paths—whether toward vengeance, forgiveness, or something in between. It is a portrait of a couple at a crossroads, with the weight of their decisions echoing far beyond the fields that surround them.

Last Updated: October 11, 2025 at 19:45

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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.

Slow-burn domestic tragedies like The Banishment

Stories where quiet tension within families erupts into irreversible tragedy.For viewers who appreciated the heavy, somber mood of The Banishment, this list features movies like it that focus on family crises and marital breakdowns. These emotional and touching family dramas share a similar tone and pacing, exploring heartbreaking themes with a devastating, slow-burn approach.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically revolve around a seemingly stable family whose foundations are cracked by a single revelation. The story then unfolds slowly, charting the characters' flawed decisions and emotional descent, often culminating in a tragic, irreversible loss that highlights the fragility of familial bonds.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on the internal destruction of a family, a slow and deliberate pacing that amplifies dread, and a consistently dark, heavy tone. They prioritize emotional realism and psychological depth over plot twists, resulting in a profoundly melancholic and tense viewing experience.

Movies about rural isolation and psychological torment like The Banishment

Films where vast, quiet landscapes amplify internal turmoil and despair.If you liked the way The Banishment used its countryside setting to create a tense, melancholic atmosphere, explore these similar films. These dramas and thrillers use rural isolation to explore themes of grief, loss, and despair, matching the slow pacing and heavy emotional weight.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern often involves characters retreating to a remote location, hoping for peace, only to find their problems magnified by the solitude. The lack of external distraction forces them to confront painful truths, often leading to tragic outcomes driven by isolation-fueled paranoia or despair.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their strategic use of setting to create mood. The emptiness and beauty of the natural world serve to underscore the characters' loneliness and internal chaos. This creates a specific vibe of quiet dread, where the environment itself becomes a character contributing to the psychological unraveling.

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The Banishment Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Banishment

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Banishment

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