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Tarkovsky Films Free Online (2010)

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Re: Tarkovsky Films Free Online (2010)

#12
Apropos of nothing in particular, but just because I love this Akira Kurosawa anecdote --

"Tarkovsky was sitting in the corner of the screening room watching the film with me, but he got up as soon as the film was over, and looked at me with a shy smile. I said to him, ‘It’s very good. It’s a frightening movie.’ He seemed embarrassed, but smiled happily. Then the two of us went to a film union restaurant and toasted with Vodka.

Tarkovsky, who does not usually drink, got completely drunk and cut off the speakers at the restaurant, then began singing the theme of Seven Samurai at the top of his lungs. I joined in, eager to keep up.

At that moment, I was very happy to be on Earth.”

That's wonderful. Stalker changed my life, it's a wonderful film. Do watch it.

Re: Tarkovsky Films Free Online (2010)

#13
I have only watched "Solyaris", but I believe I can say that Tarkovsky is one of the greatest directors who ever lived. I read the novel after watching the film, and while the film missed a few of the core themes of Lem's masterful piece of sci-fi, it still was able to capture the essence of the planetary being that is Solaris.

Stalker has been on my watch-list for quite some time now, but I haven't got around to watching it. Maybe tonight?

Re: Tarkovsky Films Free Online (2010)

#14
post #9
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both Tarkovsky and Soderbergh have almost completely missed the point of Solaris, the book. The book is about communication, or failure to do so. It's a great book to read, highly recommend.

Tarkovsky made films about what he cared about and what interested him. His Solaris wasn't really meant to be about Lem's book, just as his Stalker isn't about Roadside Picnic. Those books simply offer a setting where he could explore his own ideas.

Exactly. It’s a long time since I have seen Solaris, but I remember it as a film about human deficiencies, and especially the feeling of guilt, greatly amplified by the encounter with some “superior consciousness”. For me that’s a very interesting topic, very good angle, even if very different from what’s in the book.

Re: Tarkovsky Films Free Online (2010)

#16
post #3

Tarkovsky is my favorite 20th century film director bar none. Here's are some reasons why and why you might also be interested in his films: (1) He described his art as poetry applied to cinema or "sculpting in time," a fundamentally different conceptual idea of the cinematic art that he went to a great length to clarify (in a book of the same name, highly recommended). (2) His use of color is incredible. Some films,…

I've been a huge Tarkovsky fan for years too. Last year I saw the Chris Marker film on him and I heartily recommend it if you haven't seen it. That also goes for anyone who's read the above and wants to know more about the method of his work.

Re: Tarkovsky Films Free Online (2010)

#17
Bad translation. Some phrases in subtitles have opposite meaning; or another character starts speaking, but subtitles join his words to the sentence said by the previous speaker.

E.g. stalker says "идите" (go away), translation says "come with me"

Re: Tarkovsky Films Free Online (2010)

#19

Nostalghia is one of my favourite films ever. The scene with the shadow of the rain on the villa walls… poetry in motion.

Give The Mirror a try. It is highly autobiographical so it is probably not his most well known or well liked film but its cinematic techniques are some of the best. Poetry in motion is how I can best describe it as well.

Re: Tarkovsky Films Free Online (2010)

#20
I recommend reading Roadside Picnic[1] if you’ve watched Stalker (movie is based on the book).

There is also the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. video game series[2] that’s loosely-based on both. Also recommended if you’re into post-apoc and want a different perspective on it than western video games.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadside_Picnic

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.T.A.L.K.E.R._(series)

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