Sculpting in Time: Reflections on the Cinema - Softcover

Tarkovsky, Andrey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0292776241 ISBN 13: 9780292776241

Publisher: University of Texas Press, 1989

Synopsis

Andrey Tarkovsky, the genius of modern Russian cinema—hailed by Ingmar Bergman as "the most important director of our time"—died an exile in Paris in December 1986. In Sculpting in Time, he has left his artistic testament, a remarkable revelation of both his life and work. Since Ivan's Childhood won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1962, the visionary quality and totally original and haunting imagery of Tarkovsky's films have captivated serious movie audiences all over the world, who see in his work a continuation of the great literary traditions of nineteenth-century Russia. Many critics have tried to interpret his intensely personal vision, but he himself always remained inaccessible.

In Sculpting in Time, Tarkovsky sets down his thoughts and his memories, revealing for the first time the original inspirations for his extraordinary films—Ivan's Childhood, Andrey Rublyov, Solaris, The Mirror, Stalker, Nostalgia, and The Sacrifice. He discusses their history and his methods of work, he explores the many problems of visual creativity, and he sets forth the deeply autobiographical content of part of his oeuvre—most fascinatingly in The Mirror and Nostalgia. The closing chapter on The Sacrifice, dictated in the last weeks of Tarkovsky's life, makes the book essential reading for those who already know or who are just discovering his magnificent work.

About this title

Review

"If Sculpting in Time could be distilled to a single message, it would be this: Content and conscience must come before technique―for any artist in any art form." Source: Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Learning the language of cinema in Tarkovsky's films and in this stunning memoir, we reacquaint ourselves with art's function: in the author's words, 'to turn and loosen the human soul.'" Source: Paste Magazine

Synopsis

Andrey Tarkovsky, the genius of modern Russian cinema - hailed by Ingmar Bergman as 'the most important director of our time' - died an exile in Paris in December 1986. In "Sculpting in Time", he has left his artistic testament, a remarkable revelation of both his life and work. Since "Ivan's Childhood" won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1962, the visionary quality and totally original and haunting imagery of Tarkovsky's films have captivated serious movie audiences all over the world, who see in his work a continuation of the great literary traditions of nineteenth-century Russia.Many critics have tried to interpret his intensely personal vision, but he himself always remained inaccessible. In "Sculpting in Time", Tarkovsky sets down his thoughts and his memories, revealing for the first time the original inspirations for his extraordinary films - "Ivan's Childhood", "Andrey Rublyov", "Solaris", "The Mirror", "Stalker", "Nostalgia" and "The Sacrifice".

He discusses their history and his methods of work, he explores the many problems of visual creativity, and he sets forth the deeply autobiographical content of part of his oeuvre - most fascinatingly in "The Mirror" and "Nostalgia". The closing chapter on "The Sacrifice", dictated in the last weeks of Tarkovsky's life, makes the book essential reading for those who already know or who are just discovering his magnificent work.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0292776241
• ISBN 13: 9780292776241
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 254