Andrei Rublev

Goated Directors Cycle #17 Andrei Tarkovsky #2 "I passed this birch every day and never noticed it. When you know you'll never see it again, it means something." This film was quite a lot. However, despite its 3-hour runtime, I didn't feel bored or that it was dragging in any way. In fact, I felt it generally moved at a decent pace. Andrei Rublev is a breathtakingly epic film with unbelievable set pieces (I still can't believe that the enormous bell wasn't real, it was so convincing). The eight chapters of Rublev's journey feel disconnected, yet intimately connected by their thematic subtext and the impact they have on him. Every single unique experience he witnesses shapes, influences, and transforms himself and his view on the world. The ambitious reflection on human creativity, impact of legacy, endurance of human spirit, questioning and power of faith, and the ever-expanding conflict between Paganism and Christian, is a testament to the power of the indomitable human spirit. That final scene of the colorful iconography was beautiful, especially when contrasted against the preceding 3 hours of black & white film. I see no reason not to give this masterpiece anything less than 5 stars.