The Sacrifice
In Tarkovsky’s Cannes Grand Prix winning final masterpiece, a man vows to God that he will sacrifice all he holds dear if an imminent nuclear catastrophe can be averted.
Please note that this film is in Swedish, French and English, with Dutch subtitles.
Andrei Tarkovsky’s visionary final film unfolds in the hours before a nuclear holocaust. Erland Josephson plays retired actor Alexander who is celebrating his birthday with family and friends when a crackly TV announcement warns of an imminent nuclear catastrophe. Alexander makes a promise to God that he will sacrifice all he holds dear, if the disaster can be averted. The next day dawns and, as if in a dream, everything is restored to normality. But Alexander must keep his vow.
Andrej Tarkovski, Sweden, France, Germany, 1986, 149 min. Swedish, French & English spoken, Dutch subtitles.
With Erland Josephson, Susan Fleetwood, Allan Edwall, Guðrún Gísladóttir, Sven Wollter.