Tarkovsky

[Allan]

In the past month I've rented a few of this guys films. I'd never heard of him or any of his movies before reading about him on this forum. While it is obvious that this guy has chops for days, I've watched the stuff over and over again and still don't quite understand what I'm watching. So if you are up for some challenging cinema rent some of this guys flicks. The remainder probably isn't really worth reading but if anyone who knows these films can give me any insite I'd greatly appreciate it.

Solaris:
The first thing I rented. I figured this might be a good one to start with since it is sci-fi based and since George Clooney decided he should do a remake of it. The first time through I knew I was in trouble half an hour into it. I had no idea what was going on and the movie seemed like it hadn't made any progress. I just wasn't up to finishing it. I shut it off and decided I needed to be a little more alert in order to try and make any sense of it. Well I watched the movie in its entirity the next evening and it was still lost on me. I came away with the feeling that I'd just read a poem that somehow struck something in me yet I wasn't familiar enough with to really understand. I watched it again with commentary by two authors who have written a book on the films of Tarkovsky. That helped a little more but some of the things they draw conclusions from in the movie are way out there for me.

The Killers:
This is a short film that Tarkovsky made while still a student. It is one of his first if I remember correctly. It is based on a Hemingway story of the same name. 2 killers arrive at a restaurant looking for a swede named Ole Anderson. It is only 20 or so minutes long and is all black and white. This was fun to watch. You can already see some great shots working. I love some of the shots here where he starts with a tight shot on a charachter and slowly pans out to bring in the rest of the scene. I read the original story after viewing this film and one thing caught me by.

Nostalghia:
And I thought Solaris was frustrating. The website www.nostalghia.com (http://www.nostalghia.com) has some info and interviews that have helped but it is really difficult trying to string together what I'm seeing into something that makes sense for me.


Andrei Rublev is next.....


Allan

[Mark Heide]

Allen,

I thought that Solaris is Tarkovskys' most accessable film and believe that's why Hollywood could make a remake of it. I had to watch it a few times and I think I understand it. Here's a link to an essay on it:

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=164&eid=259&section=essay

I have not seen Andrei Rublev yet, but here's another essay:

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=34&eid=50&section=essay

I'm still trying to understand Nostalghia. I own this DVD and have watched it six times and still don't understand it.

Anyway, the beauty of watching films like this is that they don't obviously reveal their meaning. I like to make the same comparison with modern classical music. The first time I ever heard of Tarkovsky is when the Italian composer Luigi Nono dedicated some music in his memory after Tarkovsky died. By the way, Nono is one of my favorite composers and I highly recommend the mid-priced cd that includes some of his music in the Pollini Edition on Deutsche Grammophon. In particular there is a piece of music on this CD written for piano and electronics called "...sofferte onde serene..." which makes me think of Tarkovskys' films that contain the familiar fog that you see in Nostalghia and Solaris.

Good Luck

Mark

[Allan]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the links, I'll check them out.

Anyway, the beauty of watching films like this is that they don't obviously reveal their meaning.

I completely agree with this. For me, as I said before, it is like reading poetry. I'm not the most well read of folks and because of this I've never really had an easy time with poetry. When I do dedicate some time and thought to the stuff that seems to be saying something to me I am greatly rewarded. I'm slowly getting the same feeling from watching these movies.

Did you check out the commentary on the Solaris DVD? I'm curious to hear what you thought of it. It helped me in a lot of ways, but at the same time some of the stuff they talk about seems to be a big stretch....for me at least....Are you able to view the film and draw the kinds of connections from the minutia of every shot that they are? I can barely make out the overall themes and their development in the movie, forget about stuff like the pond being symbolic of something or other.

Some of the music you post about is real challenging stuff. I can't believe you listen to it at home. I've always enjoyed performing music by the composers you've mentioned or listening to it in a concert hall. I have a real hard time getting CD's of it and putting it on at the house though. Do you listen to the younger US composers?


Allan

[Mark Heide]

Allen,

It's been about six months since I watched Solaris with the commentary, so I don't remember, but I plan on viewing it again since your comments have ignited my interest in doing so.

I think the key to listening to serious contemporary music is to find an ensemble type that is initially appealing to your ears. There are many composers today that write for unique ensembles. The French and Swedish composers favor traditional ensembles mixed/or enhanced with electronics and computers. Here's a link to IRCAM for more information:

http://www.ircam.fr/index-e.html

Most of this music is ignored by the mass market, including the classical radio stations. We used to have one station in Chicago that would program contemporary classical music and play excepts from interviews between pieces.

Just like the Tarkovsky films, this music I mention is challenging, but you will not get tired of it like you do with most popular music, instead it will usually grow with you. Sometimes, you might even hate it at first, and years later you will love it. It just requires repeated listening.

The following is a list of some labels that offer contemporary classical music: CRI (It was a non-profit label that went out of business this year and currently www.qualiton.com (http://www.qualiton.com) is selling the remaining catalog for $3.50 per title), www.newworldrecords.org (http://www.newworldrecords.org), and www.mode.com. (http://www.mode.com.) A few more (I don't know the links, but you can sample excerpts at www.jpc.de (http://www.jpc.de) or www.towerrecords.com (http://www.towerrecords.com)), Naive, Wergo, Kairos, and even a budget label called Naxos that has an American Music series and 21st Century series that you can sample at their website www.naxosusa.com. (http://www.naxosusa.com.)

Good Luck

Mark