Darkland: Kembalinya Sang Pendekar
Plot
Di tengah kekacauan dan balas dendam, Dr. Zaid terpaksa menghadapi iblisnya sendiri saat ia menyelami lebih dalam dunia kelam kriminal di Kopenhagen. Tujuh tahun telah berlalu sejak Zaid memulai aksi brutal untuk membalas pembunuhan saudaranya, sebuah pencarian yang membuatnya terluka dan berubah selamanya. Saat ingatan perjuangan masa lalunya mulai muncul kembali, Zaid terpecah antara keinginannya untuk membalas dendam dan kerinduannya untuk mendapatkan kembali hidupnya sebagai dokter terhormat dan ayah serta suami yang berbakti. Identitas gandanya - satu sebagai seorang pembalas yang kejam dan yang lainnya sebagai ayah dan suami yang penyayang - menjadi semakin lemah, mengancam akan menghancurkan keseimbangan rapuh yang telah ia bangun. Saat Zaid menavigasi lanskap berbahaya para elit kriminal Kopenhagen, ia mendapati dirinya berhadapan dengan musuh yang familiar dan musuh baru. Namun, iblisnya sendiri terbukti menjadi lawan yang paling tangguh saat ia bergulat dengan implikasi moral dari tindakannya dan harga sebenarnya dari pencarian balas dendamnya. Dalam thriller yang mencekam dan intens ini, Zaid harus menghadapi kegelapan dalam dirinya dan membuat pilihan antara penebusan dan kehancuran. Akankah dia menemukan cara untuk mendamaikan masa lalu dan masa kininya, atau akankah bayang-bayang masa lalunya menghantuinya sepenuhnya?
Ulasan
Audrey
Premiering in 2003, just 12 years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, "The Return," with its tale of resurging and collapsing power embodied in the personalities of the two sons, inevitably invites deeper thought. While the allegorical nature of various aspects feels a bit forceful, as a debut film, it exhibits remarkable maturity. The long takes, color palette, and score all convey a sense of confidence and an almost omnipotent, godlike perspective. Zvyagintsev truly started his career on a high note.
Charlee
I won't bore you with the political allegory. Just a heads-up for the completionists out there: steer clear of this film. The father figure digs up a box he buried long ago on that island, and the director *never* shows us what's inside before the movie ends. It's infuriating.
Sebastian
What I thought would be a sentimental tale of "absent father, eventual return, father-son conflict, and eventual reconciliation" was completely subverted in the last half hour, overturning all my assumptions. This is a "fable" that can be interpreted from multiple angles – family, politics – making it incredibly rewarding to analyze. The cinematography is also beautiful, clearly influenced by Tarkovsky, making it very pleasing to watch.
Bennett
The plot is so contrived and wooden, the themes so monotonous and superficial. Please don't try to imitate Tarkovsky. Salejev should transition to shooting thriller horror films.
Heidi
When your Adam's apple starts to show, your muscles begin to bulge, you find everything irritating, and you fight to the death, when you start to react to beautiful women, a man suddenly appears after 12 years and says, "Son, I'm your father," and slaps you if you don't listen, you'll have patricidal feelings. You must have patricidal feelings. Only when this shadowy old tree crashes down can you understand love and responsibility, forever overcome your fear of heights. Andrei, Ivan, the rest of the summer is yours.
Nina
"Darkland: The Return" is a gripping revenge thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of Copenhagen's underworld. Zaid's pursuit of vengeance for his brother's death is a compelling narrative drive, but also one that slowly erodes his own identity and sense of self. As the film hurtles towards its intense conclusion, Zaid's blurred lines between doctor and avenger raise questions about the cost of revenge and the true meaning of justice. A gritty, intense ride that explores the darker corners of human nature.
