Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986). Introduction And Filmography

The Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky was born in 1932, and attended schools of music and art before enrolling in the Moscow Film School in 1954. His first feature film, his diploma submission at the school, was 'The Steamroller and The Violin' (1961), and his next film, 'Ivan's Childhood' (1962) established his international reputation when it won the Golden Lion at Venice. His place as one of the most important film directors of recent times was consolidated by 'Andrei Roublev' (1966), 'Solaris' (1972), 'The Mirror' (1974), and 'Stalker' (1979).

The disapproval of the Soviet authorities made it increasingly difficult for Tarkovsky to work in Russia, and after making his next film 'Nostalgia' (1983) in Italy he defected to the West in 1984. He remained in exile to make his final film 'The Sacrifice' (1986) in Sweden, and died in December 1986. The final year of his life saw the publication of his book, 'Sculpting in Time'.

Tarkovsky's reputation as one of the greatest film directors of recent times rests on the quality and depth of his work. His films are remarkable both for their aesthetic qualities, and for their portrayal of the human spiritual quest. Tarkovsky's ambition was to raise cinema to the level of literature and the fine arts, and few would deny that he achieved this.

The last years of Tarkovsky's life were not a happy time. Although his defection enabled him to live and work freely in Europe, he never felt at home there, and always longed to be back working in the Russia he loved. At the time he became ill with cancer his work was being semi-suppressed in Russia and the authorities were refusing to allow exit visas for his teenage son and his mother-in-law. The final months of his life brought some happier events, however, when his son and mother-in-law were allowed out of Russia to visit him, and when Gorbachov's policy of 'Petrestroika' finally brought him honour in his own country, and his films were shown again in Moscow.

Filmography

1961 The Steamroller and the Violin. (Katok i Skrypka)
1962 Ivan's Childhood. (Ivanovo Detstvo)
1966 Andrei Roublev.
1972 Solaris.
1974 The Mirror. (Zerkalo)
1979 The Stalker.
1983 Nostalgia. (Nostalghia)
1986 The Sacrifice. (Offret).

By: Ian Mackean

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Ian Mackean runs English Literature Resources & Essays, (where his site on Short Story Writing can also be found), and Books Made Into Movies.com. He is editor of 'The Essentials of Literature in English post-1914'. He is also a keen amateur photographer and has made a site of his photography at Photo-zen.com photography