Alexander Sokurov: Moscow Elegy - Andrei Tarkovsky (1988)

Originally produced to mark the 50th birthday of Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky the material for this stunning documentary was shot by Alexander Sokurov director of Russian Ark and Tarkovsky s spiritual heir. MOSCOW ELEGY is a subjective portrait of the legendary Tarkovsky (SOLARIS STALKER NOSTALGHIA) whose shadow looms large over Russian cinema despite his exile to Western Europe at the end of his life. Sokurov who shot the film while working at Leningrad State Documentary Productions (LSDF) focuses on Tarkovsky s absence from the then-Soviet Union and meditates on what he left behind. Using thematically representative scenes from Tarkovsky s films juxtaposed against political events in the Soviet Union Sokurov captures the great director s struggle between personal expression and state-supported suppression. The film also includes footage from Tarkovsky s funeral. System Requirements:Run Time: 90 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: FOREIGN/LATIN Rating: NR UPC: 736899103125 Manufacturer No: DV90906 Product Description

Sentimental and unenlightening

Excerpts from Chris Marker's footage of T. directing the filming of the Sacrifice is the main reason to watch this. As an "elegy" I find this unsuccessful: moody shots of various holy Tarkovsky sites in winter, uninhabited, while music swells. Almost no intentions here at all beyond display of "feeling" about Tarkovskys tragic life that comes off as pretentious. That the director be treated as a self-evident saint is what its about. A wonderful documentary to seek out instead would be Andrei Tarkovsky's: Voyage in Time shot in Italy around the making of Nostalghia; that one I would watch over and over. December 8, 2007

The Tarkovsky Elegy

The documentary genre does not necessarily mean "objectiveness" or "accuracy", it can also explore a chunk of reality, carving it with the acute eye of the artist, that renders a production full of spirituality.

This is the approach of Alexander Sokurov; this work does not intend to be a biographical documentary to be shown broadly on TV. As an "Elegy" (Mournful poem or song lamenting a dead person) it is a look into the feelings of the author and his own sorrow concerning a friend and a master's death.

Sokurov uses excerpts form "Voyage in Time" and "Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (The Sacrifice)" and extremely significant parts from "The Mirror", "Nostalghia" and "The Sacrifice". Through this and the use of some shots from Russia, and specially of places where Tarkovsky and his family lived, Sokurov captures the nostalgic feeling of Tarkovsky as he left the Soviet Union to continue with the difficult task of delivering serious films to the world.

This is a tribute from one great filmmaker to another. Sokurov captures the feeling of the loss of a friend and a genius and expresses it through images, photos, and excerpts of Tarkovsky's life and films. This is accompanied by sacred and classical music (Bach during his funeral in France).

If such an approach to documentaries appeals to you, you will enjoy this work. "Spiritual Voices" is also to be reccomended as a poethic approach to the documentary genre. July 7, 2007

You sir are no Andrei Tarkovsky

Sokurov really got it right with Russian Ark, but everything else that is available in the US, not so thrilling (though, Moloch is kind of interesting). The best parts of this documentry would be the footage lifted from Tarkovsky's Voyage in Time. Russian Ark is hardly enough to anoint him as "Tarkovsy's spiritual heir," whatever that means. Get everything available by Tarkovsky first, and if you have any money left try this. June 30, 2007

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