Sacrifice, Le

Please forgive this disorganized, vague rambling...it is difficult to put into words what this film has done for me, as it is a spiritual experiment in time and character more than it is a traditional film.

I will say right off that this movie is not for everyone. Tarkovsky is a fan of long takes, slow character development and awkward silences. Even though this is one of my favourite films, it was a struggle to get through the whole thing...which is, in fact, an effective medium to describe a man who is finding it a struggle to progress with his everyday life. The settings are fittingly dreary and dismal; indeed, his son seems to be the only spark of life in the film.

There is no plot to speak of; the film is an in-depth character study. Tarkovsky has given the main character so many dimensions that one cannot help but wonder if it is semi-autobiographical. Elements of magic realism serve to enhance the character's despair and isolation, but there are finely-crafted human details -- such as a shaking hand that must try twice to light a match properly -- that give the film a very realistic sense. The world Tarkovsky has created is like a vivid dream.

The images in this movie are incredible: watch for his use of fire, wood, earth and water, for all four elements are heavily drawn upon in his shots.

There is a documentary floating around out there that has Tarkovsky discuss this film in depth; it shows the processes he invented to create some of the takes, and the stubbornness he exhibits to get everything to match his vision perfectly. I saw the documentary before the film, and I think it only added to my appreciation. His book, "Sculpting in Time," also offers insights and bits of philosophy that add dimensions to this movie.

Though I regret that Tarkovsky passed before he could produce more works like this, "The Sacrifice" is a fitting epilogue to his collection of films, and perhaps the best eulogy a person could ever hope for亚历山大和年幼的儿子种了一棵枯树，期待它生出绿色的枝叶；亚历山大年满50岁了，可他感到自己仿佛在期待什么；他的儿子做了喉部手术，在静默中期待着能开口讲话；亚历山大的妻子和女儿日复一日地过着死水一样绝望而无期待的生活；亚历山大怀着拯救“世界末日”的愿望，放火烧了自己的房子，他期待世界的新生、自己的新生；甚至亚历山大的喃喃自语和邮差奥托讲的儿子和母亲合影照片的故事也是关于期待的。
　　评论家亚历山大在瑞典的家中过生日。他和刚动完咽喉手术的6岁小儿子种下了一株树苗。这天，电台广播了发射一批核导弹的消息，一场全球性的核灾难眼看就要爆发。亚历山大突然感到心力交瘁。他独自躲进书房，绝望地向上帝许愿奉献他所有的一切，只求恢复正常的生活。入夜，他被邮局职员奥托叫醒。奥托叫他去找女巫玛丽娅，说能帮助亚历山大改变现状。亚历山大在玛丽娅的农舍里请求她的帮助，甚至威胁着要开枪打死自己。玛丽娅把他搂在怀里。第二天早晨，亚历山大似乎又有了力量。他打发众人出去，自己放火烧了房子。开来的救护车把他送进了医院。一切又恢复了正常。亚历山大的小儿子在岸边继续为树苗浇水。

4444(创建者)