I just watched this film and was wondering if someone could tell me what their take on a scene near the end was. Why did Tolyan pretend not to know Sanya? Was it to protect him?
one of the main themes the connections of fathers to sons, tolyan didn't truly take ownership of sanya the way sanya had dreamed, the father figure thus (as an alogory to the former ussr) is one of neglect and irresposibility. ( on na xren zakusit')
shareI think that Tolyan was a person who invested in people in short bursts of time only. I think he loved them in his singular Tolyan way but forgot these people once he moved on and did not spend time thinking back sentimentally on any of his relationships. I also got the feeling that he was drunk and more down and out (hair on face, unkempt hair and clothes)after his 7 year prison sentence. Remember the boy didn't look like the cute little boy he had been. What did he want? What was he to ask(maybe demand) of him?
I think Tolyan was protecting himself only.
Maybe he was in the middle of a new "score", in the middle of his new life, with his new wife. He mentioned (when mother/son were leaving at the trains) he liked his life as it was, he didn't want another one. He also said "maybe you'll find a better man" when she said goodbye, but she answered - but I'll never love him like I love you. I think he took this as their goodbye. He realized that they couldn't be together like this and moved on. He might have assumed mom/son moved on as well after he got arrested.
But other answers in this thread also sound reasonable: indeed maybe he did not want to take ownership, maybe he did not feel any affection for mom/son. But I believe he did in the end.
That's the beauty of the movie: it's not black or white. It's not clearly said what's exactly going on in their minds.