Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Victor Khomenko (M) on July 30, 2003 at 18:10:28

In Reply to: Re: OK, now that we've gotten you broken in gently... posted by ldvictory on July 30, 2003 at 17:48:58:

I love them both and have them. I think Rublev will be easier on the Westerner (all those monks, dark Russian ages... exotic!), but some undertones will be missed - impossible to avoid this in a history-based film. It is monumental, substantial and deep... a treat to any serious film lover. Cinematography and directing are top notch.

Mirror is trickier. On the surface it is Bergmanesque, no doubt, but with strong Russian flavor - miss that flavor and you miss great deal of essense, I think.

But these are just my "native" observations - I don't know how well they are translated, for instance, and this is critical, as both as full of subtle hints.

All these issues nothwithstanding, if you love serious films, these two are musts.

Among the Tarkovsky's works I like one of his first ones: The Steamroller and the Violin... beautiful little work.

"Ivanovo Detstvo" good too.

"Nostalgia" and "Sacrifice" - I think he was losing his true identity by that time. Both serious works, but less of Tarkovsky is visible in them, I think.

The beauty is all these are available widely. So - one week, and you are done!