A poem about immortality. Stock footage of Russian history. Actors playing family members across generations. A boy with déjà vu. Soulful Margarita Terekhova's face in a Renaissance painting. Repeated motifs. To me, Andrei Tarkovsky's Mirror seems to be about Russian permanence - the land and culture, more than the Soviet regime - though I can't claim to know enough history to fully make sense of it. But the meditation on FAMILY history - lyrically moving back and forth through time - is more universal. Circumstance, genetics and culture conspire to make us "mirror" our parents and grandparents, even as we rebel against it. Something, a spirit, lives on though we ourselves might die. Tarkovsky is at his dreamiest here, which means the film is beautiful, but also just out of reach, something I appreciate, but don't always connect with.
The old dog shambling in to the mother in the dream, the young puppy crawling on the bookshelf in summer, and the distant barking heard in several places: all are the same dog. Time is an illusion; we are woven into it by consciousness and memory.
I liked this movie once I realized that it was not linear. Fragments spliced together weaving 2 generations together. Great cinematography, and very mesmerizing. Each scene a new experience.
I'd like to quickly expound upon an earlier comment (that was unfairly down-voted, in my opinion).
My experience upon first viewing this film just moments ago, is very similar to having heard a work of dense and gorgeous music; I know I've missed much of what is present and perhaps more obvious to other audience members, but I'm equally certain that the experience transcended formal meaning...and that is part of the point, if you will. The thing felt packed with meaning, not one note too many (again, if you will).
I think this is a film that will demand more than one viewing, as with any work of art worth savoring (this last line reads as pretentious to me, and when I think about it, I don't really mean that...there are plenty of works...music, film...that speak to me far more immediately, and I certainly don't value those any less).
Sufficient to say, this is heavy, wonderful stuff.
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Squin
People feel.Words are flaccid.
Siskoid
A poem about immortality. Stock footage of Russian history. Actors playing family members across generations. A boy with déjà vu. Soulful Margarita Terekhova's face in a Renaissance painting. Repeated motifs. To me, Andrei Tarkovsky's Mirror seems to be about Russian permanence - the land and culture, more than the Soviet regime - though I can't claim to know enough history to fully make sense of it. But the meditation on FAMILY history - lyrically moving back and forth through time - is more universal. Circumstance, genetics and culture conspire to make us "mirror" our parents and grandparents, even as we rebel against it. Something, a spirit, lives on though we ourselves might die. Tarkovsky is at his dreamiest here, which means the film is beautiful, but also just out of reach, something I appreciate, but don't always connect with.quattuor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYZhXm02kN0armyofshadows
The old dog shambling in to the mother in the dream, the young puppy crawling on the bookshelf in summer, and the distant barking heard in several places: all are the same dog. Time is an illusion; we are woven into it by consciousness and memory.A great and powerful but "difficult" movie.
Adrian B AWESOME
It's like if Tree of Life was made 40 years prior and wasn't complete shit.heat_
It is much better to think, read or talk about the movie than actually watching it.Limbesdautomne
The Everest of illusions by Tarko. A constant shot reverse shot of images which make sense only in the audience mind.Read more in French on La Saveur des goûts amers.
julliette
Possibly the most beautiful film ever.-1flb2-
I liked this movie once I realized that it was not linear. Fragments spliced together weaving 2 generations together. Great cinematography, and very mesmerizing. Each scene a new experience.Mahler1860
I'd like to quickly expound upon an earlier comment (that was unfairly down-voted, in my opinion).My experience upon first viewing this film just moments ago, is very similar to having heard a work of dense and gorgeous music; I know I've missed much of what is present and perhaps more obvious to other audience members, but I'm equally certain that the experience transcended formal meaning...and that is part of the point, if you will. The thing felt packed with meaning, not one note too many (again, if you will).
I think this is a film that will demand more than one viewing, as with any work of art worth savoring (this last line reads as pretentious to me, and when I think about it, I don't really mean that...there are plenty of works...music, film...that speak to me far more immediately, and I certainly don't value those any less).
Sufficient to say, this is heavy, wonderful stuff.
karuss
We need Tarkovsky now more than ever.Dieguito
Impressive cinematography, beautiful poetry.Lilarcor
In HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yn9q25NWAwTheMajor
Visually stunning. You have got to see this with your own eyes.nicolaskrizan
i don't get it, but i like ithttp://1001movies.posterous.com/968
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