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Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky

1988

Regi Andrej Tarkovskij

This documentary offers a rare glimpse of the legendary Soviet filmmaker, Andrei Tarkosvky, at work. Tarkovsky made only seven films in his brief, but brilliant, career; Michal Leszczylowski's respectful movie chronicles him at work on his last film, The Sacrifice. Offering insight into Tarkovsky's working methods and transcendental aesthetics, the movie is a compelling account of the difficulties of film production. In the case of an uncompromising and visionary filmmaker like Tarkovsky, the practical problems of filmmaking are only magnified, as cast and crew struggle to realize the ambitious concepts in Tarkovsky's mind.

Brian Cox Erland Josephson Andrei Tarkovsky Larissa Tarkovskaya Sven Nykvist

Alternative Titles

Режисьор Андрей Тарковски, Mise en scène : Andrei Tarkovski, Režie Andrej Tarkovskij

Genre

Documentary

Theatrical

23 Sep 1988

Sweden

Sweden

23 Sep 1988

Theatrical

102 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★★ 6

Inspiring. Seeing one of my directors, whose work has had such a profound effect on me as a filmmaker, in action is a fascinating experience. It was great not only to hear his philosophy, but also to witness him direct and engage with the actors. While it is, of course, a documentary, this film also serves as something akin to an unintended masterclass. The documentary shows that there is a moment that, for Tarkovsky, is vital and sums up the picture, and it is fascinating to see the scene of the burning house and how they were able to put up an identical replica in just a few days.
All in all, a must watch for every filmmaker, whether or not you are a fan of the Russian auteur.
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Review by Zack Mosley ★★★½

One of my favorite things about Andrei Tarkovsky as a person is that he makes these incredibly soulful and incisive works of philosophical art, but with his mustache and short shorts he looks like every suburban 80s Dad on his way to crush a few Kokanees at a Dire Straits concert.
Review by Tentin Quarantino ☭

This motherfucker directed a movie with a translator, with virtually none of the cast and most of the crew being able to understand anything he was saying. And that movie he directed is a masterpiece.
Also, I feel like I was pretty far off in my review of The Sacrifice, in which I stated that it felt like a movie directed by a man dying of cancer. Looking at Tarkovsky in this documentary, he is more alive than you could possibly imagine, so full of energy and drive. He is the opposite of dying. It's truly a shame that he departed this world so prematurely.
Review by somewords ★★★★★ 2

I'm giving this the full-five not because it is a masterpiece of the art form - though it's close - but instead because I have trouble thinking of a greater documentary about filmmaking.
It reminded me a bit of THE PROMISE, the Springsteen DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN doc I watched a few weeks ago. By focusing on one artist and one project - DIRECTED BY ANDREI TARKOVSKY focuses exclusively on THE SACRIFICE, his last film; I don't think there's more than one or two references to anything else - the viewer can actually <see> how those people work, rather than vagaries spoken by talking heads or out-of-context set footage.
What you get here is an embarrassment of riches…
Review by Evan Lee Ambrose

Advice to Future Filmmaker Me:
1) Constantly check the camera.
2) Constantly check the camera.
3) Constantly check the camera.
4) Try to contribute to everything on set, treat your crew as if they are also artists in your creation, and sustain the actor’s authenticity.
5) Constantly check the camera.
Review by 😿Andrew Chrzanowski😿 ★★★★

☆"The film must show the truth in the state of mind that refuses to be hidden."☆
Now having seen Andrei Tarkovsky's filmography, a final look at one of the greatest filmmakers comes in Michał Leszczyłowski's documentary, Regi Andrej Tarkovskij ["Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky"]. An extra on the restored edition of his last work The Sacrifice, Leszczyłowski -- rarely a director but a prominent editor with over 40 credits to his name -- released this making-of feature a year or so after his friend's death.
This is quite a bit better than the usual behind-the-scenes documentaries of filmmakers. Naturally it helps that it's about such a legend, one who died mere months after his final film was released and lauded all…
Review by jh ★★★★★ 1

as a director, i rarely get the chance to see other directors really work. other than shadowing, a director serves no purpose on another directors set. so, watching a documentary that consists almost solely of a master at work on set, making decisions in real time, juxtaposed with the payoff of each decision and how the captured moment translates on to film... invaluable. and then the fact that it’s also narrated by brian cox as he voices tarkovsky’s thoughts and diaries, deconstructing and exploring the philosophy and methods of a director... it’s more than essential viewing. it’s absolutely imperative.
Review by Santanu Patra 2

" Death doesn’t exist for me. I don’t know... I once dreamt I was dead. And it was such a relief , such lightness and incredible freedom. That very feeling of freedom and lightness made me believe that I was dead. That is, free from all bonds with this world. So death doesn’t exist for me. There is just suffering and pain. People often confuse the two — suffering and death. I might think differently when I have to face it some day...
Happy Birthday Sir
Review by Simona_Ivanova

my mans andrei is still alive out there frolicking in some forest u cant tell me otherwise
Review by James ★★★★

'My purpose is to make films that will help people to live, even if they sometimes cause unhappiness.'
I'm possibly over-rating this documentary which provides a rare insight into the life and work ethic of my favourite director, Andrei Tarkovsky. Naturally I found it totally captivating to see the Soviet master at work and it strikes a nice balance between conventional behind the scenes footage and a more insightful exploration of his profound philosophical beliefs.
Filmed during the production of his final masterpiece The Sacrifice by co-editor Michal Lecszylowski, it surprisingly destroyed the image I had of him being a self-serious tyrant—there are still moments where he asserts razor-sharp control over every aspect of the production, but the relationship with…
Review by Simon Ramshaw ★★★★

A nice, accessible collation of Tarkovsky's ideas and philosophy from other sources, but it really finds its feet in the final stretch when the infamous burning house take seizes hold of the film.
Also contains footage of Andrei going "WOO WOO WOO!" at a framed map and calling someone a "motherfucker".
Review by Alonso Díaz de la Vega ★★★★

Si Un día en la vida de Andréi Arsénevich, de Chris Marker, capturó el pensamiento y la muerte de Andréi Tarkovski, Dirigida por Andréi Tarkovski, de Michal Leszczylowski expresa la emocionante aventura de trabajar con él. Tarkovski actúa los roles para que los actores entiendan cómo moverse, planea los encuadres con Sven Nykvist y se encabrona cuando el plano fundamental de El sacrificio sucumbe a lo imprevisto. Leszczylowski también da espacio para la poesía y las ideas pero lo esencial de su película es el retrato de un obrero de la imagen y sus procesos para conjurar el tiempo.

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Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky

Regi Andrej Tarkovskij

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Theatrical

23 Sep 1988

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Sweden

23 Sep 1988

Popular reviews

Where to watch

Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky

Regi Andrej Tarkovskij

Synopsis

Cast

Director Director

Producer Producer

Writer Writer

Editors Editors

Cinematography Cinematography

Sound Sound

Studio

Country

Primary Language

Spoken Languages

Alternative Titles

Genre

Theatrical

23 Sep 1988

Sweden

23 Sep 1988

Popular reviews

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