Andrei Tarkovsky (1932–1986) was a Soviet filmmaker who is widely regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time. His films are considered Romanticist and are often described as "slow cinema", with the average shot-length in his final three films being over a minute (compared to seconds for most modern films). In his thirty-year career, Tarkovsky directed several student films and seven feature films, co-directed a documentary, and wrote numerous screenplays. He also directed a stage play and wrote a book.
Born in the Soviet Union, Tarkovsky began his career at the State Institute of Cinematography, where he directed several student films. In 1956, he made his directorial debut with the student film The Killers, an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's eponymous short story. His first feature film was 1962's Ivan's Childhood, considered by some to be his most conventional film. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. In 1966, he directed the biopic Andrei Rublev, which garnered him the International Critics' Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 1972, he directed the science fiction film Solaris, which was a response to what Tarkovsky saw as the "phoniness" of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Solaris was loosely based on the novel of the same title by Stanislaw Lem and won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. His next film was Mirror (1975). In 1976, Tarkovsky directed his only play—a stage production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Lenkom Theatre. Viewing Tarkovsky as a dissident, Soviet authorities shut down the production after only a few performances. His final film produced in the Soviet Union, Stalker (1979), garnered him the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at Cannes.
Tarkovsky left the Soviet Union in 1979 and directed the film Nostalghia and the accompanying documentary Voyage in Time.Dunne (2008), p. 169. At the Cannes Film Festival, Nostalghia was awarded the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury but was blocked from receiving the Palme d'Or by Soviet authorities. In 1985, he published a book, Sculpting in Time, in which he explored art and cinema. His final film, The Sacrifice (1986), was produced in Sweden, shortly before his death from cancer. The film garnered Tarkovsky his second Grand Prix at Cannes, as well as a second International Critics' Prize, a Best Artistic Contribution, and another Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. He was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize in 1990, the most prestigious award in the Soviet Union.Dunne (2008), p. 431.
Filmography
+ Year Title Credited as Notes Director Writer 1956 Student film, also actor, co-directed with Aleksandr Gordon and Marika Beiku, co-written with Gordon 1959 There Will Be No Leave Today Student film, co-directed with Aleksandr Gordon, co-written with Gordon and Irina Makhovaya 1960 Student film 1962 Ivan's Childhood 1966 Andrei Rublev 1968 Sergey Lazo Also an uncredited acting role 1969 One Chance in One Thousand Co-written with Artur MakarovDunne (2008), p. 428. 1970 Co-written with Andrei Konchalovsky & Eduard Tropinin 1972 Solaris 1973 Co-written with Andrei Konchalovsky & Eduard Tropinin 1974 Sour Grape Co-written with Ruben Ovsepyan 1975 Mirror1979 Stalker Look Out, Snake! Riley (2007), p. 24. 1983 Nostalghia Co-written with Tonino Guerra 1983 Voyage in Time Documentary, co-written and co-directed with Tonino Guerra 1986
Unfilmed scripts + Year written Film 1975 HoffmannianaDunne (2008), p. 429.1978 SardorDunne (2008), p. 430.1981 The Witch
Theatrical productions + Year Play Location 1976 Hamlet Lenkom Theatre, Moscow1983Boris GodunovRoyal Opera House, London
Bibliography + Year Book title Translator 1985 Sculpting in Time Kitty Hunter-Blair 1991 Time Within Time: The Diaries 1970–1986 Kitty Hunter-Blair
References
Works cited