205 minutes of symbol-laden, elliptical tableau. Long stretches without a central character anywhere in sight. Micro-essays concerning creativity, work, faith and doubt posing as dialogue. Some things Id never seen before watching this film: a cow on fire, a horse falling down a flight of stairs, a drowned swan, a dog beaten with a stick and no label from the ASPCA declaring no animals harmed. But I also found out how to make a giant bell ca.1400 (it involves burying it in the ground and lighting the mound on fire.) I cant say I fully grasped every moment of this film I cant even say I stayed awake for every moment of this film but there are some wild moments and, in terms of general themes and mood, I think Tarkovsky got his point across. Just slowly.
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Welcome
Jordan Hoffman is a New York-based writer and film critic working for The Guardian, Vanity Fair, Thrillist, Times of Israel, NY Daily News and elsewhere.
He is the host of ENGAGE: The Official Star Trek Podcast, a member of the New York Film Critics Circle and challenges you to a game of backgammon.