§ Andrei Tarkovsky * Elements of Cinema ROBERT BIRD‘A major contribution to the literature on the filmmaker. Robert Bird is thoroughly familiar with Russian sources unavailable to English readers and he has a remarkable sensitivity to the nuances of cinematic construction. His writing is lucid and consistently illuminates Tarkovksy’s central preoccupation ~ “the tragic failure conflict with its natural conditions”.’ of spirituality . —P. Adams Sitney, Professor of Visual Arts, Princeton University, and author of Visionary Film: The American Avant-Garde 1943-2000 A revered filmmaker, Andrei Tarkovsky is secure in the long and illus- trious line of Russian masters in arts and letters. Linking cinematic technique to broader questions of meaning and interpretation, Robert Bird offers a wholly original investigation into the aesthetic principles of Tarkovsky’s filmmaking, While providing a comprehensive analysis of his work in all media, including radio, theatre and opera, Bird argues that Tarkovsky was most at home in the cinema. Accordingly, the author dwells chiefly on Tarkovsky’s major films: lean’ Childhood, Andrei Rublev, Solaris, Mirror, Stalker, Nostalghia and Sacrifice. With its wealth of film stills and photographs, this book is a key text for all admirers of Tarkovsky and European cinema. Robert Bird is Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago, and the author of Andrei Rublev (2005), a monograph on Tarkovsky’s film of that name. With 106 illustrations, 32 in colour Cover image: Lars-Olof Lothwa Ynostalghia.com/stt ISBN 978-1-86189-342-0 9 781861 893420 > REAKTION BOOKS LT www.reaktionbooks.co.ukAndrei Tarkovsky