Meeting Andrei Tarkovsky

Dmitry Trakovsky—whose last name is similar to that of his idol and subject—is the director, writer, and narrator of this look at the legacy of Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-86), whose career included a number of unconventional and deeply philosophical works. Intrigued by Tarkovsky's enigmatic and repeatedly expressed statement, “Death doesn't exist,” Trakovsky—who was born in Moscow but moved to the U.S. at the age of 2—seeks to learn more about the Tarkovsky's life and accomplishments. Trakovsky stitches together clips and interviews with associates, including UCLA professor Vyacheslav Ivanov, who knew Tarkovsky personally and feels that he made his finest films before he left the Soviet Union in 1982 (Ivanov describes 1983's Nostalghia and 1986's The Sacrifice, which Tarkovsky made while in exile in Italy and Sweden, respectively, as “less characteristic”). The filmmaker then travels to various locales in Italy to speak with several individuals, including actress Domiziana Giordano, who appeared in Nostalghia; Donatella Baglivo, who directed the 1984 profile Poet in the Cinema; Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi; and Tarkovsky's son, Andrei Andreevich, who lives in Florence. The journey of discovery continues in Moscow, where Trakovsky speaks with filmmaker Ilya Khrjanovsky, and Stockholm, where he connects with actor Erland Josephson. Recommended for those already somewhat familiar with Tarkovsky and his filmography, this is a strong optional purchase elsewhere. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)