1962, Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky With Nikolay Burlyaev, Valentin Zubkov and Evgeniy Zharikov 84 min, 35 mm
Andrei Tarkovsky’s debut feature film Ivan’s Childhood won the young director international acclaim and the top honor at the Venice Film Festival, launching his reputation as one of the most talented directors of his generation. The film follows the effects of World War II on the childhood of a young boy. Unlike other films of the time that sought to glorify war, Ivan’s Childhood centered on the human cost of war. With this perspective, striking cinematography and unflinching performances, Ivan’s Childhood would garner raves from wide ranging figures including Ingmar Bergman, Jean-Paul Sartre and Krzysztof Kieślowski.