Andrei Tarkovsky

Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky (Russian: Андрей Арсеньевич Тарковский) was born on 4 April 1932 and passed away on 29 December 1986. Known as a Soviet film director, Tarkovsky has been widely considered one of the greatest directors in cinema history. His films explore spiritual and metaphysical themes and are known for their slow pacing and long takes, dreamlike visual imagery and preoccupation with nature and memory. He studied at the State Institute of Cinematography under filmmaker Mikhail Romm and directed his first five features in the Soviet Union: Ivan's Childhood (1962), Andrei Rublev (1966), Solaris (1972), Mirror (1975), and Stalker (1979). After creative conflict with state film authorities, he left the Soviet Union and made his final two films—Nostalghia (1983) and The Sacrifice (1986)—abroad. He also published a book about cinema and art, 'Sculpting in Time', in 1986. He died later that year of cancer. Tarkovsky was heralded throughout his career, receiving numerous accolades such as the FIPRESCI prize, the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for his debut film, Ivan's Childhood.