Andreij Tarkovskij

Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky was born in 1932 and studied at the State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow under the tutelage of Mikhail Romm. During his studies, he directed two short films: "There Will Be No Leave Today" (1960) and "The Steamroller and the Violin" (1961). His first feature film, "Ivan's Childhood" (1962), won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. In 1966, his film "Andrei Rublev" was screened but was immediately withdrawn after its premiere in Moscow. It wasn't until 1969 that it was shown in Western European theaters. In 1972, he directed "Solaris," based on the novel by Stanisław Lem. In 1974, "Mirror" was released, causing a scandal with its avant-garde style and lyrical subjectivity. After a five-year hiatus, "Stalker" was completed in 1979. In 1982, he was allowed to film his next movie, "Nostalgia," in Italy, which was completed in 1983. In 1984, he sought asylum in Western Europe. In 1985, he directed Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov" at London's Covent Garden. He temporarily settled in Sweden, where he filmed "The Sacrifice" (1986), which would become his swan song, as he passed away in Paris in December of the same year.