Andrei Rublev

I knew absolutely nothing going into Andrei Rublev except that it was directed by Andrei Tarkovsky and that it was very very long; 205 minutes to be exact. While I do love the several Tarkovsky films I've seen, they aren't exactly the best for late-night movie watches. That being said, I went ahead and watched this last night prepared to watch the second half today. Even though Andrei Rublev has multiple acts and even an intermission-like division in the middle, I chose to watch the entire thing up to 11 PM because I was fully invested in the film. I've come to expect certain elements from Tarkovsky films by now. That list includes a slow pace, complex, head-scratching narratives, and long, drawn out shots of landscapes. Andrei Rublev is Tarkovsky's second full length picture so I'm unintentionally watching his films in reverse order, but those elements are still there which is awesome to see. It's fascinating that a filmmaker who only created 8 (11 if you count shorts) films in his life time has such a unique and recognizable identity. On top of that, nearly all of those films are critically acclaimed. It's easy to understand why after viewing them. Based on some reviews I've seen this sounds controversial, but I think this is easily Tarkovsky's most accessible film. The story isn't nearly as difficult to comprehends as Mirror, Solaris, or Stalker. While there are many thought provoking scenes throughout this film, there wasn't any point during the 3.5 hour runtime where my head felt like it was going to explode. If I were to recommend a Tarkovsky film to someone unfamiliar with his work, it would probably be between this and Stalker. This is one of the few films I've watched this year that feels like an epic. The scope, the setting, and the presentation all culminate to create something that I haven't felt since I watched Ben-Hur several years ago. This is one of those films that you watch and you're left shocked wondering how they accomplished it. Not only the restrictions of the time period, but the setting of the film itself make it feel like an impossible task. I'm not religious by any means, but I enjoy watching well made films centered around religion. In fact, I feel as if this film was meant for people like me who lack spirituality. I appreciate it when my own beliefs and thoughts conflict with the story tellers because it brings me into a headspace that I'm not often in nowadays. Andrei Rublev absolutely does this and it's refreshing to see him respect the Bible's messages and those that spread them. The method in which we explore the wavering devotion of our characters is fascinating. What is a sin? Is blindly devoting your entire life to something or someone worth it? What is the importance of having a passion? How should art and religion mix? Art and life? All of these questions and more are asked. Some are answered and others are up to the viewer to figure out. This is without a doubt another masterpiece from a master filmmaker that everyone should experience at some point in there life. Lists: *2024 Goals & Favorite Films* Last Review: *The Cat Lady*