The Iconic Cinematography of Andrei Tarkovsky

Andrei Tarkovsky is a Russian filmmaker, poet, and writer. He is one of the most important directors in the history of cinema. The subjects he dealt with in his cinema, the way he handled these subjects, the camera angles and colors he used, the music, his integration of other art genres into the cinema, and many innovations left on cinema left a permanent mark on the world cinematography.

You can find almost all the contents I mentioned above in the stalker movie. In the movie Stalker, audiences travel to an area believed to be miraculous with a writer, a scientist, and a faithful guide. It is believed that the prayer in this area comes true. As our characters journey into this space, they question themselves, their beliefs, and their own selves. In addition, the audience naturally begins to question their own beliefs and hopes. The elements that add depth to the film are that each of the characters has a different mentality and, like the realities, the path to the field also changes over time. At the beginning of the movie, the characters have little faith in the miraculous realm and seem hopeless. Here, the director reflected the despair by shooting the film in black and white. As time passes in the movie, it starts to turn green in colors like hope, and as the hope of the characters increases, the green color becomes stronger. Likewise, while the music is quieter at first, as the faith of the characters increases, the music takes on a hopeful mood. When the use of art branches such as philosophy, literature, poetry, painting, and music are combined with such a deep story, it becomes one of the most iconic films in the history of cinema. In films such as Solaris, Sacrifice, Zerkalo, Nostalgia, and the Childhood of Ivan, Tarkovsky artistically conveys people's coming to terms with themselves and their past, questioning their beliefs and thoughts. In addition to these, the use of colors and painting art are other important elements that makeup Tarkovsky’s cinematography. Another element that has an essential place in his cinematography is the use of metaphors and symbolism.  Pictures, books, objects in the background, sometimes milk, sometimes apple, strengthen what the movie wants to tell, and give it new meanings. One of the best examples of this is in the movie The Steamroller and Violin, in the demolition scene of the building, which almost conveys the transformation of Russian society with the collapse of the building.

Finally, I strongly recommend you to watch Tarkovsky's films, which offer a feast both in terms of content and visuals. You can find different details and make meanings every time you watch; His films, which make you question many things about yourself and your society, add a lot of perspectives to people.