Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective

Up first in our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is Mirror, his 1975 masterpiece, now celebrating its 50th anniversary with a brand new restoration. A deeply personal and nonlinear exploration of memory, identity, and the passage of time, Mirror weaves together fragmented glimpses of a man’s life through the eyes of his mother, wife, and son. Using a rich tapestry of dreamlike imagery, archival footage, and poetic voiceovers, Tarkovsky crafts a meditative and emotionally charged reflection on the scars of the past, the shifting nature of personal history, and the ineffable connections between generations. With its non-traditional narrative structure and evocative visuals, Mirror stands as a haunting testament to Tarkovsky’s unparalleled ability to explore the inner landscapes of the human spirit.

Up next in our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is Stalker, the director's gripping philosophical journey into the unknown. Set in a desolate, mysterious landscape known only as “The Zone,” Stalker follows three men—a writer, a scientist, and the titular guide—who venture into this dangerous, otherworldly place in search of a room that supposedly grants the deepest desires of its visitors. With its existential questions and eerie atmosphere, Stalker is a masterpiece of science fiction and philosophical cinema, offering a powerful meditation on the human condition and our unyielding search for meaning.

The third film in our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is Ivan’s Childhood, Tarkovsky’s stunning feature debut. Set during World War II, the film follows Ivan, a young boy who has been orphaned by the war and becomes a scout for the Soviet army. As he navigates the horrors of war, his childhood innocence clashes with the brutality surrounding him, creating a haunting portrait of loss, survival, and the effects of violence on the human soul. Tarkovsky’s masterful use of imagery—particularly his iconic dream sequences—imbues the film with a surreal, almost poetic quality, making Ivan’s Childhood a deeply emotional and visually striking meditation on the impact of war on the psyche. With this remarkable debut, Tarkovsky established the thematic depth and visual precision that would define his career, making Ivan’s Childhood an unforgettable exploration of memory, trauma, and the fragility of innocence.

Up next in our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is Andrei Rublev, one of the director's most celebrated and historically significant works. Set in 15th-century Russia, the film follows the life of Andrei Rublev, a monk and icon painter, as he grapples with the brutality of the world around him, the spiritual toll of his calling, and the complexities of artistic creation.  Upon its release, Andrei Rublev faced heavy censorship in the Soviet Union, and it was initially banned for its perceived bleak portrayal of Russian history and spirituality. However, it eventually garnered international acclaim, receiving the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival and securing its place as one of the greatest films ever made. Andrei Rublev remains a cornerstone of both Tarkovsky’s career and Russian cinema, offering a profound exploration of the intersection between art, faith, and the human condition.

Up next in our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is The Sacrifice, his final film. Set in the days leading up to a nuclear war, the film centers on Alexander, a retired actor living on an isolated Swedish estate with his family. When he learns that the world is on the brink of destruction, Alexander makes an extreme, desperate vow to sacrifice everything—his family, his possessions, and his life—in the hopes of averting catastrophe. As the tension between personal sacrifice and global annihilation escalates, Tarkovsky crafts a poignant, spiritual journey that examines the complexities of selflessness, redemption, and the burden of human responsibility. Released after Tarkovsky’s exile from the Soviet Union, The Sacrifice was his swan song, marked by a sense of personal reflection and an urgent exploration of moral and spiritual themes. Despite being filmed under difficult circumstances, it was met with critical acclaim, winning the Grand Prix at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival and becoming a testament to Tarkovsky’s unyielding artistic vision. As his final cinematic statement, The Sacrifice offers a powerful, evocative conclusion to Tarkovsky’s exploration of faith, art, and the eternal struggle between destruction and redemption.

The penultimate film in our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is his rarely-screen film from 1983: Nostalgia. Set in Italy, Nostalgia follows Andrei Gorchakov, a Russian poet who is researching the life of an Italian composer while grappling with deep homesickness and a sense of alienation in a foreign land. As Gorchakov reflects on his past and the world he left behind in Russia, the film explores the themes of memory, longing, and the difficulty of reconciling one's personal history with the present.  The film’s intimate, reflective tone, combined with its stark, beautiful cinematography, earned Nostalgia widespread acclaim. It was awarded the Best Director prize at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival, a recognition of Tarkovsky’s extraordinary ability to capture the emotional and spiritual depth of his characters. As a work of exile and reflection, Nostalgia serves as both a personal meditation for Tarkovsky and a universal exploration of the human condition, making it an essential part of his cinematic legacy.

Closing out our Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective is Solaris, one of cinema's most renowned and thought-provoking sci-fi masterpieces. Based on the novel by Stanisław Lem, Solaris is set on a distant planet where a research station has been established to study a mysterious ocean that covers the planet’s surface. The film follows psychologist Kris Kelvin, who is sent to the station to investigate the strange occurrences happening among the crew members. As the ocean’s inexplicable powers begin to manifest, the crew members are confronted with physical manifestations of their deepest memories and regrets—projections of their pasts that challenge the boundaries of reality, identity, and the human psyche. Upon its release, Solaris was met with critical acclaim for its intellectual depth and emotional resonance, distinguishing itself from other science fiction films of the era. It was widely praised for its psychological depth and is often cited as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. Solaris was also recognized at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Prize. In Tarkovsky’s hands, the genre becomes a platform for profound philosophical inquiry, making Solaris a timeless exploration of the human experience, the fragility of the mind, and the mysteries of existence.