Tarkovsky: Andrei Rublev

by Matthew Blevins
17, May 2011Approved By NP, Reviews, Spotlight, TarkovskyView Comments

Andrei Rublev may be one of the few high water marks of cinematic achievement. It is difficult to reflect on the film while resisting the temptation to describe it with overwrought hyperbole. Its masterful use of historical context, religious overtones, and the grandiosity of its epic scale laid the framework for Tarkovsky’s deeply personal and introspective ruminations on the redemption of humanity. It is peerless in the sum of its parts and each viewing of the film only serves to peel back a few more layers of the surface to expose impressions of the unobtainable truths that lurk below.

We follow Andrei Rublev, a humanistic artist, through the intense trials and tribulations of medieval Russia. He is introspective and caring, which is a dangerous combination in any historical backdrop. His thoughtfulness makes it difficult for him to create the art that he has been tasked to create. He is too thoughtful for the cold pragmatism of commercial icon painting and is deeply conflicted by his desire to reconcile the ignorance of humanity and the redeeming grace of individuals. His desperate search for the redeeming qualities of humanity is a difficult task in times of ignorance and constant turmoil. Man’s desire for power would lead him to betray his god, country, brother, and fellow man so what point is there in creating art in service of man?

Andrei eventually loses his faith in mankind. He remains seemingly steadfast in his faith in god, but must come to terms with the fact that the two are not mutually exclusive. He must come to terms with the fact that it is our lot to suffer and it is through that suffering that we can find the beauty of humanity. Man may be driven to ignoble deeds in his personal quest for glory but there may be a modicum of hope within to cling to. The only trick is finding it in the face of so much ugliness. It is a great tragedy when the humanitarian loses his faith in mankind and it is equally as tragic when the great artist refuses to create, but it is through this introspective journey that he is able to find that which he is seeking.

I am not a religious person but I understand the conflict that lives behind Andrei Rublev’s eternally youthful exterior. When taken as a whole it is difficult to find the good in humanity and the achievements of civilizations. Man is seemingly driven solely by his self satisfying needs and seems unwilling or unable to see the bigger picture and put their own actions in to a historical context. We are too busy living to stop and consider the transience of all things and the pressing need to find beauty while we are still here to find it. We are too preoccupied with the ugliness of the self-serving priest, power hungry leaders, and the exploitative raiders to consider the divinely tragic wisdom of the buffoon, or the inherent righteousness of man pushed beyond his limits.

100/100 - It is peerless in the sum of its parts and each viewing of the film only serves to peel back a few more layers of the surface to expose impressions of the unobtainable truths that lurk below.

Matthew Blevins
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Behind me you see the empty bookshelves that my obsession with film has caused. Film teaches me most of the important concepts of life, such as cynicism, beauty, ugliness, subversion of societal norms, and what it is to be a tortured member of humanity. My passion for the medium is an important part of who I am as I stumble through existence in a desperate and frantic search for objective truths.
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  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    Andrei Rublev is my favourite Tarkovsky, though it’s not a place I’d recommend anyone to start. Kind of like me starting Godard with Weekend.

  • http://www.facebook.com/blevo Matthew Blevins

     Interesting, I think Andrei Rublev was my first Tarkovsky and I was immediately hooked and wrapped up the rest of his work soon after.  Which one would you recommend starting with?  Stalker perhaps?  The best part about this retrospective is visiting each film again with fresh eyes and finding more pieces of each film that resonate with my soul. 

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    When it comes to Tarkovsky, I usually recommend Stalker or Solaris as the best places to start.

  • http://twitter.com/NextProjection Christopher Misch

    And I’ve actually only seen each Tarkovsky once, so watching you go through all these one by one makes me realize how I long to find the time to revisit each of them.

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