THE ALEXANDER SLAUGHTER
Death tends to make the last work of an artist at will as if of a rule in question. But, really, for a work to be testamentary, you must have a willingness and intention to close because they have the knowledge or be glimpsed in a way that the end is near. After completion of Sacrifice, a Tarkovsky you diagnosed cancer, which led to his death in December 1986. Noteworthy is that the character of Alexander , played by Erland Jospehson , which originally was to suffer a cancer in the film, but ultimately be modified. Sacrifice becomes a mysterious projection of the future and not only in this aspect but also on the stairs where he recorded the scene of Revelation, was assassinated in 1986, the Swedish president Olof Palme . Although Tarkovsky unaware that the illness suffered during the shooting, probably experienced a feeling that the end was just around the corner: his time was running out, ie, it was time to end the cycle. How is it possible but the top of your first film Ivan's Childhood (1961) begins the same way that ends what would be his last movie? That is, with a child and a tree. The true artist is always ahead of the target.
The core of the film based on the idea for a screenplay called "The Witch", which Tarkovsky began writing in 1981 while he was taking Nostalgia . In this scenario, the character of Alexander suffered a cancer cure by sleeping with a woman who was reputed to possess supernatural powers.
In Sacrifice, Alexander character is a retired actor, journalist, philosopher and scholar, who will celebrate their fiftieth birthdays during the day when you start another Great War.
Alexander promises to God all you have if this stops the fight that has burst. Otto, the postman , close friend of Alexander, tells this that there is a chance to end the war: it is that you go to bed with Mary, her maid, to his home. Alexander sleep with her one night and the war ended. Alexander, fulfilling the promise he made to God, burn your house and leave his family . The consequences of this act shall be considered a madman .
What we try to say Tarkovsky with an argument as crazy as this? What's behind the Alexander Sacrifice? Michel said
Foucault in democratic centuries, men rarely sacrifice themselves for each other, but show a general compassion for all members of the human species (1). The act carried
Alexander, like Dominico in Nostalgia (1983), can not be understood rationally , as it moves in the coordinates of faith. Alexander want to sacrifice to try to change the destination contemporary, fleeing the conformism and passivity about the situation just explode, and decides to act: he resigned to their property and his life for others. Tarkovsky said only when we know we are prepared to sacrifice we can have some influence on the general course of life, there is no other way. The price is inevitable, our material welfare (2). Alexander, monk like the story he tells his son at the beginning of the movie, believe in the validity of the act and the possibility that change the course of history. It boils down to a question of faith. The son of Alexander seem to learn the lesson of his father and continue watering the tree until it returns to green, live, although this act is presented to us as impossible. Because what matters is the belief and perseverance.
Sacrifice has always been considered a film with influences " Bergman." This is because the film was shot on the Swedish island of Gotland where Bergman spent long periods, since much of the team that collaborated in the work of Tarkovsky had worked with the Swedish master. The most important is the collaboration of cinematographer Sven Nykivist , usual charge of photography on the films of Bergman , from which in 1953 participated in Circus Night. Sven Nykivst got to adapt to the style of Tarkovsky with very general plans and long shots where the camera never stops moving, doing long and endless tracking shots and pans and give it the image a unique visual texture. is not the number of lights making a film is impressive . Just the opposite, you can create the atmosphere with as little light as possible (3). Tarkovsky This statement neatly sums how to work the Swedish photographer, who always preferred a minimum of light and color and maximum image contrast.
What we try to say Tarkovsky with an argument as crazy as this? What's behind the Alexander Sacrifice? Michel said
Foucault in democratic centuries, men rarely sacrifice themselves for each other, but show a general compassion for all members of the human species (1). The act carried
Alexander, like Dominico in Nostalgia (1983), can not be understood rationally , as it moves in the coordinates of faith. Alexander want to sacrifice to try to change the destination contemporary, fleeing the conformism and passivity about the situation just explode, and decides to act: he resigned to their property and his life for others. Tarkovsky said only when we know we are prepared to sacrifice we can have some influence on the general course of life, there is no other way. The price is inevitable, our material welfare (2). Alexander, monk like the story he tells his son at the beginning of the movie, believe in the validity of the act and the possibility that change the course of history. It boils down to a question of faith. The son of Alexander seem to learn the lesson of his father and continue watering the tree until it returns to green, live, although this act is presented to us as impossible. Because what matters is the belief and perseverance.
Sacrifice has always been considered a film with influences " Bergman." This is because the film was shot on the Swedish island of Gotland where Bergman spent long periods, since much of the team that collaborated in the work of Tarkovsky had worked with the Swedish master. The most important is the collaboration of cinematographer Sven Nykivist , usual charge of photography on the films of Bergman , from which in 1953 participated in Circus Night. Sven Nykivst got to adapt to the style of Tarkovsky with very general plans and long shots where the camera never stops moving, doing long and endless tracking shots and pans and give it the image a unique visual texture. is not the number of lights making a film is impressive . Just the opposite, you can create the atmosphere with as little light as possible (3). Tarkovsky This statement neatly sums how to work the Swedish photographer, who always preferred a minimum of light and color and maximum image contrast.
Sacrifice is the film in which the Russian director has further their stylistic conceptions of "sculpting time." Noteworthy is the wonderful final scene in which Alexander after performing a ritual, set fire to what is most dear to him: his home. Alexander runs from one side to another to escape the hands of psychiatrists with cries of joy because he knows that his act will count for something, but in the eyes of his family has become a madman. Tarkovsky's camera traveling on a long round and retrace the character while the house is engulfed in flames. A traveling , which as stated Chris Marker: the tracking here is no longer a moral issue but metaphysics (4), thanks to a meticulous planning and choreography devised by Andrei Tarkovsky and continuity plane of the four elements: wind, water, fire and earth, so present in all the films of Russian director and will make its appearance in the sequence. Carlos Losi is absolutely right when he says at the bottom the true Tarkovsky what you like filming is water, clouds, land and bodies, and from them the importance . But only from them.
. (1) Michael Foucault, Discipline and Punish .
(2). VV.AA, about Andrei Tarkovsky. Jaguar Ed.
(3). Rafael Llano , Andrei Tarkovsky: life and work of the Government Film (2003), Vol II, p 683.
(4), Marker, Chris , Une journée d'Andrei Arsenevitch (2000).
(2). VV.AA, about Andrei Tarkovsky. Jaguar Ed.
(3). Rafael Llano , Andrei Tarkovsky: life and work of the Government Film (2003), Vol II, p 683.
(4), Marker, Chris , Une journée d'Andrei Arsenevitch (2000).
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