1. Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986)

2. Andrei Tarkovsky: formation Son of a poet, Arsenii Tarkovsky. Son of a poet, Arsenii Tarkovsky. Andrei’s mother was educated as a writer at the Literary Institute, but destroyed all her works “for the lack of talent.” Andrei’s mother was educated as a writer at the Literary Institute, but destroyed all her works “for the lack of talent.” Studied music and art while at school; for a year, studied Arabic (the Oriental Institute, Moscow). Studied music and art while at school; for a year, studied Arabic (the Oriental Institute, Moscow). Graduated from the State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow (VGIK), film- directing-program, in 1960. Graduated from the State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow (VGIK), film- directing-program, in 1960.

3. Creative activity Influences: Almost no Russian directors; French New Wave and Italian neorealism; Almost no Russian directors; French New Wave and Italian neorealism; Michaelangelo Antonioni; Ingmar Bergman; Akiro Kurosawa and other Japanese directors; Louis Bunuel; Robert Bresson, etc. – the “author’s cinema”: director should be also the scriptwriter. Michaelangelo Antonioni; Ingmar Bergman; Akiro Kurosawa and other Japanese directors; Louis Bunuel; Robert Bresson, etc. – the “author’s cinema”: director should be also the scriptwriter. Work beside cinema: screenplays; screenplays; directing Hamlet in theatre (Moscow, 1976) directing Hamlet in theatre (Moscow, 1976) directing the opera Boris Godunov (London,1983); directing the opera Boris Godunov (London,1983); a book on film theory, Sculpting in Time (1986) a book on film theory, Sculpting in Time (1986)

4. Andrei Tarkovsky Left the USSR in 1984. Died in Paris. Left the USSR in 1984. Died in Paris. Long list of international awards, but just one (as a student) in the USSR; the Lenin Prize posthumously (1990). Long list of international awards, but just one (as a student) in the USSR; the Lenin Prize posthumously (1990). One of the greatest cineastes of the 20th cent. His work is among achievements of the “Stagnation” (the epoch that followed the Thaw). One of the greatest cineastes of the 20th cent. His work is among achievements of the “Stagnation” (the epoch that followed the Thaw).

5. Tarkovsky Quotes “The artist exists because the world is not perfect”; “The artist exists because the world is not perfect”; “Art would be useless if the world were perfect”; “Art would be useless if the world were perfect”; “Art is born out of ill-designed world”; “Art is born out of ill-designed world”; “Cinema is an unhappy art since it depends on money.” “Cinema is an unhappy art since it depends on money.”

6. Films: The Steamroller and the Violin 1960 Ivan's Childhood 1962 Andrei Rublev 1966. Shown at Cannes 1967. Released for (limited) screening in USSR in 1971 (censored version). Released in full in 1987. Solaris rel. 1972 Mirror rel. 1974 Stalker rel. 1979 Nostalghia 1983 (Italy) Sacrifice 1986 (Sweden).

7. Tarkovsky’s Art Bergman claimed that Tarkovsky invented a new cinematic language: dreamlike, true to the nature of film. Bergman claimed that Tarkovsky invented a new cinematic language: dreamlike, true to the nature of film. Poetic realism: the long shot, less montage, no rapid-cut editing. Poetic realism: the long shot, less montage, no rapid-cut editing. Fantasy, dreams and the telescoping of time (sculpting in time) - the flashback unmarked. Fantasy, dreams and the telescoping of time (sculpting in time) - the flashback unmarked. Anti-narrative in the Hollywood/Socrealist sense. Anti-narrative in the Hollywood/Socrealist sense. Measured use of colour (chromatic Epilogue in AR). Measured use of colour (chromatic Epilogue in AR). Metapoetic (self-reflective). Metapoetic (self-reflective). Recurrent motifs (i.e., horses, levitation/flying, milk, water). Recurrent motifs (i.e., horses, levitation/flying, milk, water). Metaphysical themes. Metaphysical themes.