Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47993 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-03-07
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Color, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: Swedish
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 246 minutes

Customer Reviews

Swan song
Tarkovsky's relatively early death robbed us of one of our greatest film makers. "The Sacrifice" was his final film, directed after Tarkovsky had been diagnosed with what he knew was his final illness. In the film, which he originally planned to entitle "The Witch," Tarkovsky clearly wants both to help himself make sense of the ending he's personally facing, and to invite viewers to think about the existential issues raised by mortality in general.

The film's plot is simply told, although there's nothing at all simple about the actual film. Friends and family gather at a remote house to celebrate the author/actor Alexander's birthday. Shortly afterwards, nuclear missiles fly over the house, and the television, before going dead, announces that a nuclear war has erupted. In despair, Alexander prayerfully promises to sacrifice everything if the war can be averted. He sleeps with a local witch, an action that is supposed to bring wishes true, and at the film's end he burns down his home and is hauled off to a madhouse. The war seems to have been averted--indeed, time seems to have slipped backwards following Alexander's sacrifice, obliterating the opening nuclear salvo.

The film is visually beautiful, with the long shots characteristic of Tarkovsky's cinematography, perfect compositions in individual scenes, chiaroscuro throughout, delicate almost pastel colors alternating with deep, dark shadows. The acting is also good, especially Erland Josephson's portray of Alexander. And the script is intriguing in places, especially Alexander's opening monologue reflecting on the transcience of existence with his son, the "Little Man." Given that Tarkovsky dedicated the film to his own son, it's not outlandish to suppose that the opening scenes were intended as Tarkovsky's parting message to his own "Little Man."

The film's themes are both intriguing and important. What does it mean for the world to end? Such an ending is quite different from an individual's death, but in what ways? What's the connection between spiritual and physical death? What does it mean to make a sacrifice? If we offer up a sacrifice for the sake of others, do we ever really quite understand what we're getting ourselves into? Is the sacrifice that's actually exacted what we intended it to be?

But despite all this, the film is flawed. Too much is crammed into it--it's as if Tarkovsky, knowing he was running out of time, pulled together in one movie everything that he'd hoped to have a lifetime to say. What he does say here is worth hearing, especially because his own death imparts a realworld melancholy to a melancholic cinematic theme. But as a stand alone work of art, "The Sacrifice" isn't in the same league as, for example, his "Andrei Rublev" or "Solaris."

A haunting final sacrifice
Andrei Tarkovsky's "The Sacrifice" is a quietly philosophical masterpiece. It's about the end of the world, but don't expect massive explosions and asteroids headed to the earth. Alexander (Erland Josephson) is an atheist in an unhappy marriage with his younger wife Adelaide (Susan Fleetwood) Adelaide is carrying on an affair with his doctor. He has a bored teenaged daughter,as well as a very young son he calls "Little Man" and "Word." Alexander wonders about the purpose of life; he has lost faith. When he hears about the impending nuclear holocaust, he spontaneously offers to God everything he holds dear.

Alexander's sacrifice turns out to not be what he expects. Like Abraham, his sacrifice is of a different nature he assumed. The postman tells him that he can reverse the apocalypse by making love to the servant girl, Maria, who is thought to be a good witch. Alexander goes to Maria. Sensing his desire, she embraces him. He fears his impotence, but she gives him a magic drink that arouses him. They make love in mid-air. After the lovemaking, Alexander pours out his heart to Maria in a powerful monologue. Maria seems to be a combination Nature Goddess/ Virgin Mary figure.

The movie concludes with Alexander's other sacrifice, and an unexpected ending. Little Man finally speaks, and the viewer is left with more questions than answers. In his final movie, Andrei Tarkovsky deftly blends Zen Buddhism, Christianity (as represented in Leonardo Da Vinci's "Adoration of the Magi"),Nietzsche, and questions about the apocalypse. It's a deeply mystical and symbolic film, leaving food for thought.

Attention: this film requires you to think
There is no simple answer, no simple review or "reading" of this film which can be proven to be correct. Indeed, this film requires you to think and provide your own answers. All great works of art are like this, I think.

Background information is very important in this case: Tarkovsky was dying of cancer while he shot this film. He completed the shooting, but did not live to see the final copy.

Be prepared to devote some time and energy in order to appreciate was this film has to offer.