Nostalgia Details

Tarkovsky novices beware

Andrei Tarkovsky was a great director, loved by most high-brow film critics: think Bergman crossed with Kubrick, but Russian and not as accessible! He made only seven feature films and they gradually became lighter on plot and heavier on symbolism (running water, horses, dogs, fire, mist) – from Ivan’s Childhood through to The Sacrifice, via Andrei Rublev (an astonishing historical epic, my favourite) and Solaris (his most famous work). The other three (Nostalgia, Mirror and Stalker) are beautiful to look at, very personal, but often incomprehensible. So if you have never seen a Tarkovsky film do not, under any circumstances, start with this one! My advice is to try them in the order he made them, as his films do require a while to get the feel of, but are well worth the effort. Two other things to note: Nostalgia is his least well-regarded film (even Tarkovsky buffs don’t like it) and there is an inherent problem that his films really are better suited to the cinema rather than DVD – they somehow feel diminished on the small screen . . .

[Highly rated reviewer]

I don't agree

I'm not qualified to argue my corner with any authority here, but personally I do not agree with the general consensus that this is Tarkovsky's least successful film. I came to this great director fairly late in my life as an art-house fan, and so far have seen Mirror, Andrei Rublev, Solaris, and Nostalgia. Of these four Solaris, his most popular film, was for me by far the least enjoyable, to the extent that I found it silly and almost painfully boring. With Nostalgia I discovered once more the beautiful cinematic poetry I so admired in Mirror. It's in ordinary situations; a hotel lobby; a half remembered childhood garden; a sightseeing trip to a rural church; not on spaceships, that Tarkovsky creates sudden magic. It's well worth watching too for the brilliant cast, and especially for Oleg Yankovsky who gives a truly great performance in the lead role. The ending is genuinely startling. I found this film to be beautiful, grand, and memorable.