Product Description

Newly available in paperback, this beautifully produced album is composed of sixty polaroid photographs drawn from a pool of about 200 taken by the great Russian film director in Russia and Italy between 1979 and 1984. The selection was made by Tarkovskys son and the renowned Italian photographer Giovanni Chiaramonte.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22920 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 136 pages

Review
"* 'One of the most beautiful books of the year' - Time Out * '[These photos] match the rapturous visuals and spiritual intensity of Tarkovsky's films... [they] capture eternity in a moment' - Vertigo"

About the Author
Andrei Tarkovsky, probably best-known for his 1972 film Solaris, is widely considered the finest film-maker Russia has ever produced. He died in 1986. Andrei A. Tarkovsky, born in 1970, is his son. Giovanni Chiaramonte is a distinguished Italian photographer. Tonino Guerra is a prolific Italian screenwriter and was a great friend of Tarkovsky, with whom he worked on Nostalghia.

Customer Reviews

treasure
Ingmar Bergman is quoted as saying '...for me, Tarkovsky is the greatest filmmaker' -- not bad, considering that the source is numbered among the most respected directors in the history of cinema. Tarkovsky made a 'scant' 7 films over the course of his career -- but each one of them is outstanding. His philosophy of art and spirituality pervades all of his work -- including the incredible photographs reproduced in this thoughtfully assembled, lovingly printed volume.

Tarkovsky's son along with Giovanni Chiaramonte (a wonderful Italian photographer whose comments at the end of the book show that he shared a great deal of Tarkovsky's spirit and concerns) have put together this collection -- and I have no doubt that it will not only be treasured by those who are already admirers of the director, but that it will serve as a fitting introduction to those who have as yet missed out on him. Tonino Guerro (a close friend and collaborator of the filmmaker) contributes a wonderful forward.

The strength, depth of spirituality, transcendent beauty and wisdom contained in and conveyed by the images and thoughts here are timeless. One of the driving forces in Tarkovsky's work was to 'stop time' so that the viewer might better understand not only the events depicted in his images, but also, upon reflection, better view his own soul, personality and place in the scheme of things. There are many photographs in this book that have that very time-stopping effect.

This is a collection that I will treasure -- I can't recommend it highly enough.

A Must Have For Anyone Who Loves Great Art
The Italian publication of: Instant Light: Photographs by Andrei Tarkovsky, which was released last year is great, making this English language release all the more special, especially since I've heard it will be just as good publication if not better, then it's Italian counterpart. A very special collection from one of the greatest filmmakers in history. If I could give it 10 stars I would.

Tarkovsky cuts Time with his wonderful Polaroids.
INSTANT LIGHT- TARKOVSKY POLAROIDS


Tarkovsky amazing Polaroids are Images being re-born from his memory of past Time and being found again; these are images being born inside: reality plus poetic motives is the intimate reality of all of us.
Not just "reproducing" an image of nature or of a simple room, but making visible those "interior images" where poetry is created. Creating the symphony of forms and colors richness, all variations became possible, and also revelations , being the main one that the artist should just let be transported by the large current, without reproducing just what is visible but rendering visible that which not always is.
Tarkovsky was always forced to stop the flew of time in its dramatic race towards The end, but in this Polaroids he could felt and give the Beauty of life in just an awareness of fleeting glances. He was conscious of the arrival of its own end : cutting Time was his most desperate passion.

I would like to add what Giovanni Chiaramonte says, also publisher of this book (pag,128)":The unbroken moment that comes to life within the images of Andrei Tarkovsky's films and his Polaroid photographs is transfigured and becomes an unbroken moment of contemplation for more of us who look at them, making every image become a part of our lives, a memory of our own personal experience".

The amount of perfection summarized in this extraordinary edition, makes of this little unpretentious book a small jewel specially for the many admirers of Andrey Tarkovsky's films, life, writings, and future influences. If by chance, you are not yet one of them, this book will make you start admiring and loving him.