Moscow Elegy
Encyclopedia
Moscow Elegy is a 1988 documentary film directed by Alexander Sokurov
, about the later life and death of Soviet Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky
. The film was originally intended to mark the 50th birthday of Tarkovsky in 1982, which would have been before his death. Controversy with Soviet authorities about the film's style and content led to significant delays in the production.
from Tarkovsky's films Mirror
, Nostalghia
, Voyage in Time
, and The Sacrifice
, as well as footage of Tarkovsky shot during production for The Sacrifice. Some footage was supplied by Chris Marker
. Sokurov also shot footage of various houses and apartments where Tarkovsky had lived. With the exception of some of the archival footage, the film is entirely in black and white. Sokurov and the crew had scheduled a total of 12 days for the entire production.
in 1987 on Tarkovsky's birthday, and many Russian filmmakers and actors (for example Alexander Kaidonovsky
) strongly disliked it.
by Tonino Guerra
and Andrei Tarkovsky
himself, One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich
by Chris Marker
, The Recall by Tarkovsky's son Andrei Jr., and Regi Andrej Tarkovskij by Michal Leszczylowski, the editor of Tarkovsky's The Sacrifice. Tarkovsky has also been featured in numerous documentaries about the history of cinema or the craft and art of filmmaking.
Alexander Sokurov
Alexander Nikolayevich Sokurov is a Russian filmmaker. His most significant works include a semi-documentary, Russian Ark , filmed in a single unedited shot, and Faust , which was honoured with the Golden Lion, the highest prize for the best film at the Venice Film Festival.- Life and work...
, about the later life and death of Soviet Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky was a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, writer, film editor, film theorist, theatre and opera director, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers of the 20th century....
. The film was originally intended to mark the 50th birthday of Tarkovsky in 1982, which would have been before his death. Controversy with Soviet authorities about the film's style and content led to significant delays in the production.
Production
The film consists mostly of Sokurov's narration over stock footageStock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
from Tarkovsky's films Mirror
The Mirror (1975 film)
The Mirror is a 1975 Russian film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. It is loosely autobiographical, blending childhood memories, newsreel footage and poems by his father Arseny Tarkovsky...
, Nostalghia
Nostalghia
Nostalghia is a 1983 Soviet film, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky and starring Oleg Yankovsky, Domiziana Giordano and Erland Josephson.The plot of the film centers around the meaning of the term nostalgia, which describes a longing for the past, often in idealized form.-Plot:The opening scene is a...
, Voyage in Time
Voyage in Time
Voyage in Time is a 63-minute feature documentary that documents the travels in Italy of director Andrei Tarkovsky in preparation for the making of his film Nostalghia....
, and The Sacrifice
The Sacrifice
The Sacrifice is a 1986 film, and the final film by Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky, who died shortly after completing it.-Synopsis:...
, as well as footage of Tarkovsky shot during production for The Sacrifice. Some footage was supplied by Chris Marker
Chris Marker
Chris Marker is a French writer, photographer, documentary film director, multimedia artist and film essayist. His best known films are La jetée , A Grin Without a Cat , Sans Soleil and AK , an essay film on the Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa...
. Sokurov also shot footage of various houses and apartments where Tarkovsky had lived. With the exception of some of the archival footage, the film is entirely in black and white. Sokurov and the crew had scheduled a total of 12 days for the entire production.
Reception
The film was first screened at Dom Kino in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1987 on Tarkovsky's birthday, and many Russian filmmakers and actors (for example Alexander Kaidonovsky
Alexander Kaidonovsky
Alexander Leonidovich Kaidanovsky was a Soviet and Russian actor and film director.His best known roles are in films such as At Home Among Strangers , Telokhranitel/The Bodyguard and Stalker ....
) strongly disliked it.
Similar documentaries
Several dozen other documentaries about Andrei Tarkovsky have been produced. Most notable are Voyage in TimeVoyage in Time
Voyage in Time is a 63-minute feature documentary that documents the travels in Italy of director Andrei Tarkovsky in preparation for the making of his film Nostalghia....
by Tonino Guerra
Tonino Guerra
Tonino Guerra is an Italian poet, writer and screenwriter who has collaborated with some of the most prominent film directors of the world.-Biography:Guerra was born in Santarcangelo di Romagna....
and Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky was a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, writer, film editor, film theorist, theatre and opera director, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers of the 20th century....
himself, One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich
One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich
One Day in the Life of Andrei Arsenevich is a 1999 French documentary film directed by Chris Marker, about and an homage to the Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. The film was an episode of the French documentary film series Cinéastes de notre temps , which in over ninety episodes since 1966...
by Chris Marker
Chris Marker
Chris Marker is a French writer, photographer, documentary film director, multimedia artist and film essayist. His best known films are La jetée , A Grin Without a Cat , Sans Soleil and AK , an essay film on the Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa...
, The Recall by Tarkovsky's son Andrei Jr., and Regi Andrej Tarkovskij by Michal Leszczylowski, the editor of Tarkovsky's The Sacrifice. Tarkovsky has also been featured in numerous documentaries about the history of cinema or the craft and art of filmmaking.