Another significant, highly accomplished film of the 20th century, which I so far have hesitated to write about is The Mirror by the Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky. This film from 1975 is chronologically located in the middle of the seven masterpieces that Tarkovsky made between 1962 and 1986:

• • Ivan’s Childhood
  • Andrei Rublev
  • Solaris
  • The Mirror
  • Stalker
  • Nostalgia
  • The Sacrifice

In the midst of these seven gems of world cinema The Mirror might shine strongest of all!

The Mirror deserves to be watched more than once. It is difficult to catch the story line and context in a first viewing and to distill meaning from it. Yet, the impression you already get at the first watching is that, although wondering all the time ”who is who and what is what” you are looking at something exceptional, offering glimpses of something bigger and deeper. Because the film is not chronological and is mixed with historical footage, it is not easy to understand where you are in the story and how the scenes fit together. Another difficulty is that Tarkovsky uses the same actress in different roles and generations, both as his mother in the childhood scenes and as his wife in the present day scenes. He focuses on three time periods, but moves then freely between these time frames. 

The Mirror is an autobiographical film. But not in a straightforward manner, but as a mixture of childhood memories, historical context, imaginations and relationships. It is a narrative that moves backwards and forwards in time, giving us a chronicle of the man and artist Tarkovsky, who lives in the present with the past remaining present to him. From childhood to the point of death, there are moments of precious beauty and of regretful heartbreaks. And every scene is so beautiful to look at and is so memorable through its poetic tone and style! 

Through his narrative he offers us a mirror. It invites us to think of our closest relationships, of what we received, what we missed, what we gave and what we failed to give; to reflect on how social and political events have put a mark on our lives and continue to mark us; to revisit and to stay a bit longer at the blessings and regrets of our life. The Mirror is definitively a film that has the potential, if we allow it, to make us seek to reach a bit higher and to look a bit deeper into ourselves.   

Rinus, May 2019

*Image posted for non commercial purposes
under 'fair use' of copyright material in recommendation of the film

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