ANDREY TARKOVSKY. A CINEMA PRAYER

The brilliant director Andrey Tarkovsky, whose works are considered masterpieces of world cinema, left us with eight films and an ever growing interest in and desire to understand his work. The documentary recounts Tarkovsky’s life and work, letting the director tell the story himself, as he shares with us his memories, his view of art and his reflections on the destiny of the artist and the meaning of human existence. Thanks to some extremely rare audio recordings, viewers are able to immerse themselves in the mysterious world of his cinematic imagery, allowing them to comprehend and reassess the work and inner life of the great director.

The account is accompanied by never previously released recordings of poems by Arseny Tarkovsky, one of the greatest Russian poets of the 20th century and the director’s father, read by their author. Arseny’s poetry had always had an influence on Andrei’s movies, underlining the profound cultural and spiritual bond between father and son. The images of the film are made up of excerpts taken from the director’s works, rare contemporary photos and videos and sections shot in the places where Tarkovsky lived and made his movies, in Russia, Sweden and Italy, his adoptive home.

Cinematographer: Alexey Naidenov

Editors: Michał Leszczyłowski, Andrey A. Tarkovsky

Produced by:

Andrey Tarkovsky International Institute, Italy/Russia

Producer: Andrey A. Tarkovsky

Archival consultants: Marianna Chugunova, Olga Arseneva

Producer assistants: Natascia Gazzana, Raffaella Gazzana

Klepatski Production, Russia

Producer: Dmitry Klepatski

HOBAB, Sweden

Producer: Peter Krupenin

Associated producers

Film i Väst

Anthony Muir

Katarina Krave

Film Capital Stockholm/Gotland FilmFond

Lisa Widén

with support from

Film på Gotland

Revolver, Italy

Producer: Paolo Maria Spina

Producer assistants: Corso Codecasa, Lavinia Della Gatta

Press agent: Barbara Perversi

in collaboration with Toscana Film Commission