The Sacrifice

The Sacrifice - 2003-12-03<br>Director: Andrei Tarkovsky, Russia, 1986, Color, 145 minutes. Tarkovsky was engaged in making this film while confronting the monster of death himself. Thus, the testament of one of the greatest filmmakers of Russia has now remained as an extraordinary film of love and humanity in the form of 'The Sacrifice' for humanity. This magnificent and exceptional film, as a critic noted, may be the most accessible and shocking work of one of the true giants of modern cinema. Tarkovsky, who was exiled from the Soviet Union, made 'The Sacrifice' in Sweden, collaborating with the chief cinematographer of Bergman's team, Sven Nykvist. With Nykvist's help, he created a world of escape and refuge where the cold, wintry outdoor spaces contrast with dark, cave-like interiors. The film's major and sensitive theme is the lack of spirituality in the modern world. The story unfolds as the birthday celebration of a writer living on a remote island is disrupted by the news of the onset of World War III. Tarkovsky boldly connects this theme with his own death and the destruction of the world. Tarkovsky is often described as a philosophical filmmaker or a filmmaker philosopher, but it should also be noted that he created some of the most astonishing cinematic images and the most beautiful scenes in the history of cinema. Ingmar Bergman said of Tarkovsky: 'For me, Tarkovsky is the greatest. He is someone who, while showing life as a reflection or a dream, created a new language for cinema that was true to the nature of film.'