Product Description

Andrei Tarkovsky's debut feature is an extraordinarily moving and powerful story of war and revenge. Determined to avenge his family's death at the hands of the Nazis, 12 year-old Ivan joins a Russian partisan regiment as a scout, where he becomes indispensable for his ability to slip unnoticed behind enemy lines. But, as his missions become increasingly dangerous, it is decided that he must be removed from the front line. Ivan resists and convinces his commanding officers to allow him to carry out one last expedition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10795 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-08-26
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Black & White, PAL
• Original language: German, Russian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 91 minutes

Special Features
Russian
Region 0
English

Synopsis
Visionary Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky's first film, MY NAME IS IVAN, is a powerhouse of visual and emotional impact and a portend of many themes Tarkovsky would develop throughout his legendary career. Ivan (Nikolai Burlyayev) is a 12-year-old boy roaming the destroyed landscapes of World War II Russia along the German front. Between Ivan's ecstatic dreams of his missing family and his mud-and-blood-encrusted reality, the viewer learns that Ivan's father, mother, and sister were killed by Germans and that since then he has gone into service as an intelligence scout for the Russian army.
Ivan's shocking bloodthirsty hunger for revenge is juxtaposed with the innocence and earthbound lyricism of his dreams and memories, creating a portrait of a stolen childhood and a bleak future. Protected and loved by his makeshift family of stoic army officers, Ivan resists being taken out of the army and forces his way back into another scouting mission, putting himself directly in the line of fire. Tarkovsky underscores this wartime drama with a compelling poetic vision through the use of evocative black-and-white cinematography as well as stunning sound and production design. Each element plays a significant part in this brilliant film, based on Vladimir Bogomolov's novel IVAN.

Customer Reviews

Visual poetry
Childhood is supposed to be idyllic but that does not apply for the eponymous protagonist of Andrei Tarkovsky's first feature film. Twelve year old orphan, Ivan, joins the partisans to avenge his family's death at the hands of the Nazis. His ability to slip through enemy lines more easily than an adult is useful to the forces and he resists attempts to remove him from the front.

'Ivan's Childhood' is shot in black and white which was Tarkovsky's preferred form, although much of his later work was in colour. Light is used to create images of breathtaking clarity such as the opening dream of happier times with Ivan floating through the sky or a dizzying scene in which Masha, a military doctor, swirls around trees. Cutting to the sound of gunfire is a startling juxtaposition. His poetic visuals make every shot the equivalent of watching a painting in motion but there are occasional explosions and the dream sequence using music, bells and screams to enhance the images is far more terrifying than any horror flick. The story follows more of a linear pattern, apart from the dream sequences, than Tarkovsky's other films; even his customary insertion of newsreel footage fits appropriately.

The influence of Ingmar Bergman and Italian neorealists such as Roberto Rossellini is apparent. Few modern directors are producing work of such measured pace and contemplative tone, perhaps Theo Angelopoulos and Alexsandr Sokurov might merit comparison. Tarkovsky, though, had a singular vision and 'Ivan's Childhood' is an ideal introduction to his distinctive work.

A haunting vision of a boy`s descent into the horrors of war
This beautiful debut film by Russian master Tarkovsky is the poignant and often painful journey of young boy Ivan`s experiences as a spy against the German army who murdered his parents. With some of the most incredible cinematography ever put on celluloid, the film often transcends into the surrreal to portray how the horrors of internal and external confliction mould Ivan`s view of the world. Definitely a classic that should not be missed.

War and emotion
Andrei Tarkovsky was indeed a genius and his breakthrough film 'Ivan's Childhood' thrilled audiences forty years ago and now will thrill a new generation of filmgoers. The disc allows the transfer to betray its age but is still in good condition. Unfortunately the black and white print with a host of eerily lit scenes accentuates film grain is on the whole a touch disappointing. However such is the rare power of Tarkovsky's vision that this makes little difference to the overall experience. Some intelligent extra features and a glowing photo gallery showing what the film must have looked like when pristine are worthy additions. This is my favourite Tarkovsky film and for any fans it is a must buy. For those unfamiliar with his work it is the perfect place to start!