Product Details

• Actors: Petr Mamonov, Pyotr Mamonov, Nina Usatova, Yuri Kuznetsov, Viktor Sukhorukov
• Directors: Pavel Lounguine
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: Russian
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Film Movement
• DVD Release Date: July 1, 2007
• Run Time: 112 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000RTCSIQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,517 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Repnet Llc Release Date: 02/05/2008 Run time: 112 minutes Rating: Nr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Island" is about a man who's anguish brings him to a life of penance., September 21, 2010

By 

DesertSister62 - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Island (DVD)

When the movie begins, the man who becomes the subject of the film commits an act born of abject terror and shortly thereafter the film fades and reopens 30 yrs. later. As the scene opens the second time, you find yourself watching the man and his actions and you become aware that what he did years before has brought him such anguish that even now, years later, he still feels it necessary to live the remainder of his life in severe penance. This man, who has been taken in by the monks on this cold bare island outside of Russia, is admired by the people in the nearby town as a "Holy Man" who has actually wrought miracles in their lives, while his fellow monks see only a dirty, unkempt spectacle of a man who refuses to conform to their expectations. It is hilarious in places, sad in other places, but in the final analysis, his guilt is finally assuaged and a quiet peace fills him and gives him the freedom that he has sought for so many years.

The ending was both life affirming for me and sad at the same time. I really liked this movie but that was because I understood the penitential life that he was living and why he was living it. You would have to have that initial understanding, I think, to get anything out of the movie as a whole!

The one lack that I found for this movie was its absolute economy of subtitles. While the characters speak a great deal at times, the subtitles are few so you have to really pay attention to what is going on to follow it! Overall it is an excellent movie!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an intense spiritual journey, February 22, 2011

By 

Robert J. Crawford (Balmette Talloires, France) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Island (DVD)

This is a special film about a man, overwhelmed by a choice he made during the extremes of war, who resolves to lead a holy life in a monastery. Locally he becomes known as an especially powerful man, almost a shaman and source of wisdom, but his behavior is bizarre and generates friction with the other monks, in particular the leader. Disregarding all doubt and jealously, he plows ahead, helping people and reflecting on his life, seeking redemption in his acts. The ending is a great surprise, unpredictable in the way that Hollywood films never are.

His journey, even for a non-believer like myself, is completely believable, as are his cures and his ability to show people the way. It is beautiful, too. I was moved by this film and recommend it to anyone interested in spirituality and human possibility.

The version that I have, region 2, is entirely in Russian with ENglish subtitles. The images are crisp and very stark.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes You Think..., May 11, 2011

By 

B. Peroceschi (Eagan, Minnesota - USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Island (DVD)

The first time I watched this film on Netflix I gave it 4 stars. I found myself coming back to this film and watching it again. After I watched it 3 times i gave it 5 stars.

Things are not always what they seem....

The things you do wrong in your life...all of us....it affects you for the rest of your life...

This fantastic film that shows the immense guilt and sadness of one man and how it devastated his whole life. I'm not terribly religious, but this man, he found his salvation and in the end forgiveness. He did many good things in his later life, but these things could not heal him until he was forgiven in the end.

There are many fine moments in this film some of which you may not understand in the first viewing.