‘The Sacrifice’ interrogates spiritual belief amidst possible WWIII

Screenwriter/director Andrei Tarkovsky is an icon in film circles, a challenging, provocative director. Known for long takes with profoundly philosophical discussions, Tarkovsky died in 1986 at 54. After making five films in what was then the Soviet Union, his dispute with state authorities made it impossible for him to arrange a satisfactory working environment.

After leaving in 1979, he made his final two fictional films, “Nostalghia” in Italy (1983) and “The Sacrifice” in Sweden (1986), now available in a beautiful 4K restoration. Beginning with Tarkovsky’s characteristic lengthy, heady dialogue, retired journalist/critic Alexander and postman Otto discuss Nietzsche and faith, or lack thereof, as Alexander’s mute boy, Little Man, pulls a silly stunt on Otto. Thus begins a two hour twenty minute inquiry into spiritual beliefs, a possible nuclear holocaust, and futile attempts to control the world, notably through witches.

Chastened by events, Alexander bargains illogically with God, as Alexander’s wife Adelaide, doctor/friend Victor, maid Maria, nurse Julia, and Otto sequester in a lavish, isolated home. During their existential descent into what Tarkovsky called a parable, they interrogate death and human savagery, attempts to cope with fallible human nature, and the disharmony between the material and the spiritual worlds. Ingmar Bergman’s iconic cinematographer Sven Nyquist fashioned glorious compositions, interjecting black-and-white footage for effect a couple times. The remote Gotland Island location adds its own metaphorical touch, along with striking music and sound.

The immersive, mesmerizing experience of Tarkovsky’s films is best described through the effusive praise of film legends. Swedish director Ingmar Bergman applauded Tarkovsky for capturing life as a dream. Japanese director Akira Kurosawa admired his astonishing sensitivity to life, and Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami finds Tarkovsky’s films intensely spiritual. They live up to all those tributes for few films deliver such an exquisite encounter with a cinematic artist of the highest order.

In Swedish with English subtitles, a new 4K restoration of “The Sacrifice” screens at Webster University’s Winifred Moore auditorium Friday, November 1, through Sunday, November 3, at 7:00 each of those evenings. For more information, you may visit the film series website at: Webster.edu/filmseries.