Nostalgia (1983)

Tarkovsky: you either love him or hate him. It's imperative to understand that Tarkovsky is more about mood and imagery than strong driving narrative, although it's untrue that this film lacks narrative (unlike Mirror which is simply a collection of scenes). The story is there in Nostalgia: the characters are all real and fight for their needs and wants - there is conflict. But Tarkovsky is more interested in the feeling of the story rather than clearly communicating plot information and keeping you locked into classical narrative structure.VERY few filmmakers can do this well, and countless filmmakers try to imitate Tarkovsky and miserably fail, partly because they don't understand that there is a real story happening here - it's just presented in a way that is highly allegorical. This is definitely not 'lazy' filmmaking, or style covering for a lack of technique (Tarkovsky was a highly literate man who could run circles around most Hollywood scriptwriters, and he had the services of Antonioni's screenwriter for Nostalgia). He is simply one of the very few filmmakers who can make a good film without adhering to classical narrative film structure.As is traditional for Tarkovsky, the actors are all top notch, the cinematography is divine, the sound design is intentional and the music is very judiciously chosen. Nothing is left to chance. And yes, of course there is plenty of water, as with his other films! Would I have enjoyed a more traditional narrative format for a film like this? Yes, which is why I gave this film only seven stars. Tarkovsky could have done a bit more to keep us involved in the story without compromising the mood he was building. But I still gladly accept this film for what it is - it has some absolutely magical, brilliant moments that forever stay in your mind.If you're new to Tarkovsky, it's probably a better idea to start with some of his more accessible films, such as Ivan's Childhood and Solaris.

No, not by me. A review can only be something about myself.25 years after my experience with "Zerkalo" I wrote a late review here, and after a few other good films, tonight, I was watching Woody Allens "Crimes and misdemeanors" and "Nostalghia" - twice, my last movie I hope. First time with, second time without sound.Whe I sit down the world begins to turn. Something happened to my senses or my brain, I don't know.I need a polar night now. Some aurora borealis is welcome - and likewise dreams. Didn't have a dream for a long time.Someone wrote here "Go no further." It seems not possible - I have to give away the DVD's or sell it, there are billions of other people and maybe someone likes it.Nothing can stay as it is. A Glenn Gould - CD I think I'll keep for a while...

It's sometimes true that the most demanding movies can yield the most lasting rewards, and the penultimate film by the late Andrei Tarkovsky certainly puts the theory to the test. This was the first feature he directed outside the Soviet Union, and its protagonist is (like Tarkovsky himself was) a Russian artist exiled in Italy. But don't expect anything remotely plot-driven; like other Tarkovsky films it's a dense, challenging exploration of faith, madness and memory: beautiful, enigmatic, intellectual, and extremely slow moving. Many of the sequences are a labor to sit through, but the final shot, in which the director transplants a Russian cottage (complete with landscape) inside the massive walls of an ruined Gothic cathedral, is by itself compelling enough to erase the aftertaste of even the most tedious passages.

I've read comments written before, And I'm surprised how some people are criticizing the movie,and I think that they have to read some good deep poetry before trying to criticize the film, and I'm sure that they will not understand it too! This man is a poet, he writes images and metaphors, so he can make poetic films too! So If you are not interested in poetry you can simply don't watch the movie !And If you are interested in such thing ! You can enjoy hundreds of metaphors ,allegories, and symbolical images, You can see clearly then the philosophy of Andrei..And you can Enjoy that depressed view(most of the times) about Life , Children , Love , and that reaction toward the people who always deal with him like a stranger... But Is he really a stranger ?? Or people are the real strangers ?? and that lead to a question ,that if he is a real stranger , does that mean that he is wrong !??And We can't forget his reaction toward leaving his country , and how he feels uncomfortable , like living in a high place where there is less oxygen ! That place which he can't never find real own peace in!