I'm in awe of this film...and speechless...
Tarkovsky fashions a breathtaking meditation on his usual themes: faith, memories and sacrifice. It's filled with unforgettable images. We follow a Russian poet Andrei (Oleg Yankovsky) accompanied by his translator, a Rafaelite beauty (Domiziana Giodano) in an ancient hot springs hotel in Italy. There he meets Domenico (Bergman regular Erland Josephson), a local kook who had locked himself and his family up in his house for 7 years, believing the end of the world is imminent. The poet feels a kinship with the madman. The film slowly progresses to an unforgettable speech by Domenico in Rome. He calls for human unity and urges us to go back to our origins. Then he douses himself with gasoline and sets himself on fire. The ending with Andrei carrying a candle through the drained outdoor hot springs really made me very emotional.
No comments:
Post a Comment