<<< January 27 - 29, 2005 >>>

Screenings of these films will take place at the Aero February 10-13, 2005.

A unique opportunity to revisit or discover one of the greatest masters of European cinema, who, alongside Godard, Fellini and Bergman, encouraged a personal and authorial approach to cinema as an art form. Andrei Tarkovsky (1932 – 1986) only directed seven features and two shorts that, nevertheless, profoundly influenced and shaped not only Europe’s cinematic approach to topics such as religion and human beliefs, but also helped Russia achieve aesthetic and cultural independence. Visionary, talented, poetic, religious, metaphysical and overall incredibly technical, Andrei Tarkovsky taught his own and future generations to utilize and approach cinematic narrative through a variety of forms and manners; he revealed how to comment on modern social and cultural conditions without directly talking about them and, most importantly, without being artistically and politically mannerist.

Thursday, January 27 – 7:30 PM

ANDREI RUBLEV, 1969, Kino Int’l, 205 min. Inspired by the life and works of 15^th century poet and icon painter Andrei Rublev, director Andrei Tarkovsky utilizes the fundamentals and morals of the religious orthodox to make a precise artistic statement: the role of the creator in any given society has to be linked to society; an artist is only a servant offering his talent to the community and God. With art, Rublev participates in the sufferings of his people and gains a social and cultural conscience about his nation. Tarkovsky described the role of the artist in his book Sculpting in Time thus: "We cannot comprehend the totality of the Universe but the poetic image is able to express that totality" The film incorporates the director’s most fascinating cinematic maxims: flowing water (representing passing time), the awareness of cinema as language and the importance of remaining independent and original in a time and place where individual artistic approaches are banned. Starring Anatoli Solonitsyn, Ivan Latpikov, Nikolai Grinko and Nicolai Sergeyev. Repeats at the Egyptian on 1/29. [Also screening 2/13 Aero]

Friday, January 28 – 7:30 PM

SOLARIS, 1972, Kino Int’l, 167 min. Based on the classic sci-fi novel by Stanislaw Lem, this is probably director Andrei Tarkovsky’s best known film and far more than just a science fiction epic. As in Kubrick’s 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, Tarkovsky takes an intellectual approach to metaphysical issues. Scientists try to understand the secrets of the mysterious planet Solaris, but find themselves slowly becoming victims of their own imaginations and secret desires. Russian authorities and film critics initially thought that the public would find the film too difficult to understand, but in 1972 it won the Special Jury prize at Cannes and eventually opened in the United States in 1976. However, it wasn’t until 1989 that the film was released in America in its original 167 minute running time. We are very proud to show that version tonight. Chris Landreth will appear for an extended Q & A to discuss his groundbreaking animation technique and the influence and importance of Ryan Larkin’s work. Starrig Donatas Banionis, Natalya Bondarchuk, Juri Jarvet. [Also screening 2/11 Aero]

Saturday, January 29 – 5:00 PM

THE MIRROR (ZERKALO), 1975, Kino Int’l, 108 min. Director Andrei Tarkovsky’s autobiographical approach to cinema finds voice here as he shows us the second great war in Europe, the evacuation from Moscow and the separation of a couple, all things that the filmmaker experienced himself, and, in 1974, was ready to share with the public. He utilizes himself, his story, his reflection (in the mirror) to offer this nostalgic vision of the world. Probably his most intimate film, it not only enables us to understand and capture his vision of history, but also to understand the Russian master as a human being. Starring Margarita Terekhova, Ignat Daniltsev, Larisa Tarkovskaya and Alla Demidova. [Also screening 2/10 Aero]

Saturday, January 29 – 7:30 PM

ANDREI RUBLEV, 1969, Kino Int’l, 205 min. Inspired by the life and works of 15^th century poet and icon painter Andrei Rublev, director Andrei Tarkovsky utilizes the fundamentals and morals of the religious orthodox to make a precise artistic statement: the role of the creator in any given society has to be linked to society; an artist is only a servant offering his talent to the community and God. With art, Rublev participates in the sufferings of his people and gains a social and cultural conscience about his nation. Tarkovsky described the role of the artist in his book Sculpting in Time thus: "We cannot comprehend the totality of the Universe but the poetic image is able to express that totality" The film incorporates the director’s most fascinating cinematic maxims: flowing water (representing passing time), the awareness of cinema as language and the importance of remaining independent and original in a time and place where individual artistic approaches are banned. Starring Anatoli Solonitsyn, Ivan Latpikov, Nikolai Grinko and Nicolai Sergeyev. [Also screening 2/13 Aero]