#Season: Tarkovsky Sculpting Time season at Triskel Christchurch Cinema, June 26-29

Sculpting Time is a selected season of films by Andrei Tarkovsky running at Triskel Christchurch Cinema from June 26th to 29th. A tribute to the late, great Russian film director, digitally remastered editions of Solaris, Stalker, Nostalgia, and The Sacrifice will be screened.

Tarkovsky (1932 – 1986 ) is widely considered one of the most influential filmmaker in Russian cinematic history, and indeed of modern cinema. Tarkovsky perfected a filmic language and style that makes his films timeless and continuously watchable.

2016 marks the 30th anniversary of Tarkovsky’s death. His films continue to mesmerise and inspire audiences around the world. To mark this occasion, the Sculpting Time retrospective is screening at select cinemas across Ireland and the UK, and we couldn’t pass up on the opportunity of hosting these amazing movies. – Chris O’Neill, Head of Cinema at Triskel Christchurch

Opening the season on Sunday is one of Tarkovsky’s best known works, Solaris. Based on a science fiction novel of the same name, the film focuses on the reflections of cosmonaut scientists studying the titular fictional planet’s ocean. This 1972 classic was the filmmaker’s attempt of infusing depth into the science fiction genre.

Following this on Monday is another dive into the realm of science fiction, 1979’s Stalker. Focusing on the ‘Stalker’, he leads a team with differing motivations to a site known as the ‘Zone’. Another loose sci-fi novel adaptation, it explores philosophical and psychological themes as the characters delve into parts unknown.

Tuesday brings 1983’s Nostalgia. The first film made by Tarkovsky outside of the USSR, it looks at a man exploring the life of composer Pavel Sosnovsky, who resides in Italy before his suicide. Framing beautiful and stark imagery, the movie explores its namesake in the fascinating and thought-provoking way only its filmmaker can.

Closing off the season on Wednesday is 1986’s The Sacrifice. Tarkovsky’s final film (he died shortly after its completion), it focuses on a man trying to bargain with God to stop a nuclear holocaust. A more personable outing, it explores the themes of faith and spirituality while also being a scathing critique of the modern world.

Tarkovsky for me is the greatest (director), 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