To mark the fortieth anniversary of his death, we pay tribute to the renowned Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. Born in 1932 and making his debut feature in 1962, Tarkovsky was instantly recognised as a true visionary. His films have captivated international audiences for their aesthetic beauty, timeless themes and layered interpretations.
We are pleased to present four of his seven films: ‘Andrei Rublev’ (1966), a medieval epic docudrama originally banned by soviet authorities, was named Guardian’s best arthouse film of all time. ‘Stalker’ (1979), a dystopian sci-fi epic, is widely considered to have been prophetic of the Chernobyl disaster, and may still prove prophetic of a climate change catastrophe. The other two films, made in exile, were the director’s final and are now restored in 4K: ‘Nostalghia’ (1983), his most poetic film, is a contemplation on time and memory, while ‘The Sacrifice’ (1986) provokes viewers with a WWIII-themed storyline. - Dr Stavroula Varella-Barker