The Island (2006 film)

The Island (Russian: Остров, romanized: Ostrov) is a 2006 Russian film about a fictional 20th century Eastern Orthodox monk. The film closed the 2006 Venice Film Festival, proved to be a moderate box-office success and won both the Nika Award and the China TV Golden Eagle Award as the Best Russian film of 2006. The filming location was the city of Kem, in Karelia, on the shores of the White Sea.[1]

The Island
Film poster
RussianОстров
Directed byPavel Lungin
Produced byPavel Lungin
Sergei Shumakov
Olga Vasilieva
Written byDmitry Sobolev
StarringPetr Mamonov
Viktor Sukhorukov
Dmitri Dyuzhev
Music byVladimir Martynov
CinematographyAndrei Zhegalov
Distributed byPavel Lungin's Studio
Release date
  • 2006 (2006)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryRussia
LanguageRussian
German

Plot

During World War II, the sailor Anatoly and his captain, Tikhon, are captured by the Germans when they board their barge and tugboat, which is carrying a shipment of coal. The German officer leading the raid offers Anatoly – who is terrified of dying – the choice to be shot or to shoot Tikhon and stay alive, which Anatoly takes; he shoots, and Tikhon falls overboard. The Germans blow up the ship but Anatoly is found by Russian Orthodox monks on the shore the next morning. He survives and becomes a stoker at the monastery but is perpetually overcome with guilt.

Thirty years pass. Anatoly now has the gifts of prophecy and healing. But the other monks do not really understand him. People come to see Anatoly for cures and guidance, but even now, he remains in a perpetual state of repentance. He often gets in a boat and goes to an uninhabited island where he prays for mercy and forgiveness.

Many years pass, and an admiral of the North Fleet arrives at the monastery. He brings his daughter who is possessed by a demon, but Anatoly exorcises it. The admiral turns out to be Tikhon. It is revealed that Anatoly only wounded him in the arm. Tikhon forgives Anatoly.

Anatoly announces his death by Wednesday; the monks provide a coffin. Dressed in a white garment such as Jesus wore or as an Orthodox baptismal garment, he lies in the coffin, wearing a crucifix. Monks, one carrying a large cross representing the risen Christ, are seen rowing the coffin away from the island.

  • Bell tower
  • Barge

Spiritual message

The film is focused on father Anatoly's repentance of his sin (therefore the virtually continuous occurrence of the Jesus Prayer); but the transgressions of the depicted character (a fool for Christ) and their impact on the others are the means by which the actual plot develops. The film's director Pavel Lungin, speaking of the central character's self-awareness, said he doesn't regard him as being clever or spiritual, but blessed "in the sense that he is an exposed nerve, which connects to the pains of this world. His absolute power is a reaction to the pain of those people who come to it;" while "typically, when the miracle happens, the lay people asking for a miracle are always dissatisfied" because "the world does not tolerate domestic miracles."

Screenwriter Dmitry Sobolev further explains: "When a person asks God for something, he is often wrong because God has a better understanding of what a person needs at that moment."[1] Pyotr Mamonov, who plays the lead character, formerly one of the few rock musicians in the USSR, converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the 1990s and lives now in an isolated village. Pavel Lungin said about him that "to a large extent, he played himself." Mamonov received a blessing from his confessor for playing the character.[1]

The former Patriarch of Moscow, Alexei II (who held the office from 1990-2008), praised Ostrov for its profound depiction of faith and monastic life, calling it a "vivid example of an effort to take a Christian approach to culture."[2]

Cast

Crew
  • Writer: Dmitry Sobolev
  • Director: Pavel Lungin
  • Producers:
  • Stage-manager: Andrei Zhegalov
  • Artistic Directors:
    • Igor Kotsarev
    • Alexander Tolkachev
  • Composer: Vladimir Martynov
  • Sound:
    • Stefan Albine
    • Vladimir Litrovnik
  • Montage: Albina Antipenko
  • Costumes: Ekaterina Dyminskaya

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on 19 reviews, and an average rating of 5.8/10. Derek Adams of Time Out described the film as "both heartfelt and ultimately optimistic" in a generally positive review.[3] Wesley Morris, writing for The Boston Globe, gave the film 2 and a half stars, called the film "an aggravating combination of piousness, arty self-pity, and knowing silliness meant to speak to higher spiritual truths".[4]

Awards
  • 2006 — best film at the Moscow Premiere festival.
  • 2007 — Six awards at the fifth national Golden Eagle Awards - "Best film", "Best male support role" (Viktor Suhorukov), "Best male role" (Petr Mamonov), "Best director" (Pavel Lungin), "Best scenario" (Dmitry Sobolev), "Best operator work" (Andrei Zhegalov).
  • 2007 - Nika Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, etc.
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See also
  • Fool for Christ, the type of character portrayed in the film
  • Jesus Prayer

References
  1. «Остров». Фильм-событие. Фильм-проповедь ("The Island" - Film-event. Film-sermon), Russian Patriarchy website, 2006-10-25, accessed 2008-03-17. (in Russian)
  2. Cf. Feature film about Orthodox monk sweeps Russian film awards, Ecumenical News International, 2007-02-01, accessed 2008-03-17.
  3. "The Island (2010), directed by Pavel Lounguine | Film review". Time Out London. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  4. "In answering prayers, film explores Russian soul - The Boston Globe". archive.boston.com. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
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