The first two-thirds are an extraordinary slow burn that provides ample time to admire Mr. Zvyagintsev's talent with the wide frame.

The Banishment is so obviously the work of an exceptional film-maker that you can't deny its power, ambition and ability to keep you watching.

The film works mostly in ellipses and silences, establishing a solemnly mysterious mood.

While Konstantin Lavronenko does give an intriguing performance, it's really the film as whole, all pieced together like a puzzle half assembled, that works majestically.