Some of My Favorite Shots from the Films of Andrei Tarkovsky

A short set of shots, quite near to the heart

Many film enthusiasts have stated, and I agree, that Andrei Tarkovsky was a poet who also loved cinema. Hundreds of papers have been written to analyze his filmography, and his influence on numerous modern filmmakers has undoubtedly altered the path of the cinematic medium. He's regarded as a philosopher, which is a well-deserved label.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the films of Andrei Tarkovsky:

1: Ivan’s Childhood (1962)

2: Mirror (1975)

3: Stalker (1979)

4: Nostalgia (1983)

5: The Sacrifice (1986)

6: Solaris (1972)

7: Andrei Rublev (1966)

It appears as though heaven, not a human, is performing the setup when Tarkovsky wants to show the viewer a particular shot or moves his camera. Like Tarkovsky, no one moves or even positions the camera. Of course, his cinematographers deserve some of the credit, but it still takes a poet to work with another poet.

An artist like Tarkovsky's films contains some of the best scenes and shots; these are a few of my personal favorites. I'll post more as I have the chance.

Tarkovsky for me is the greatest, the one who invented a new language, true to the nature of film, as it captures life as a reflection, life as a dream.

— Ingmar Bergman