Sorrowful masterpiece.

Ivan's Childhood (1962) is a film by Andrei Tarkovsky that received international acclaim and has many positive reviews: Cinematography Some say the cinematography is gorgeous and dream-like, with a hard-edged realism. The film's use of landscapes is Expressionistic, and the birch forest scenes are especially striking. Music The haunting music score contributes to the film's mood. Story The film's story is thought-provoking and wrenching, with memorable scenes and images. It tells the story of a Soviet orphan who befriends three officers while working as a scout behind enemy lines during World War II. Themes The film features many of Tarkovsky's characteristic themes, even though it was early in his career. Impact on Tarkovsky The film helped Tarkovsky articulate ideas that he would later develop in his book Sculpting in Time. International acclaim The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, which gave Tarkovsky international visibility. Reception The film received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Ingmar Bergman called it a miracle.

La guerra es la guerra. Andréi propone una historia bélica, dolorosa, diferente, una realidad contundente que apunta a la introversión de Iván, sus necesidades, carencias, indiferencias, anhelos y deseos más profundos. Un niño al que la guerra le arrebató a su familia, le quitó su infancia, el miedo, todo. Forzado a dejar su inocencia, Iván, con sed de venganza busca ser útil al ejército soviético, no conoce más allá de la violencia y vive inmerso en la pérdida y la crudeza del conflicto. El carácter de Iván, sus sueños, su forma de pensar y de ver la realidad, nada lejos de una pesadilla. Constantemente expuesto a situaciones de alto riesgo, rodeado de un círculo que intenta preservar su puericia que ha sido manchada por la guerra, impidiendo se pueda hacer más. Finalmente una vida inocente que se pierde en la maldad del hombre y me genera un interrogante ¿Qué culpa tiene? Andréi deja una muestra de su inteligencia en una composición que indaga en la tensión, un ritmo que sella una forma, que emite códigos precisos, Tarkovski deja la marca de su esencia, moldea el tiempo y lo ajusta, sin dejar de un lado el sentido propio de la historia.

Poetic masterpiece. Absolutely a must seen movie

This film was quite good 👍🏼

A beautifully filmed masterpiece with stunning cinematography and a great story with powerful performances, make this a wonderful work to behold. The debut film from Andrei Tarkovsky is a real gem and was a true moment of arrival for Tarkovsky in the world of cinema. He would go on to make many masterpieces that are towering works of art! This a simple story of childhood in wartime, is deeply moving and powerful. It's so universal in it's telling of the human condition and specifically how war ravages everyone and the devastating impacts on children.

Tarkovsky's first feature film sidesteps the active, 'hot' parts of warfare to emphasize the chilling moments of quiet between the bullets when the mind starts to wander. The director implements the dreamlike atmosphere that would become his most prominent trademark in later years to present a jagged and fractured narrative in emulation of his protagonist's psyche, caught between the happy memories of his earlier years and the cruel vengeances that he now doggedly seeks as a front-line scout; in the warmer years of the Khrushchev Thaw, Ivan is now a victim of a larger conflict fighting with venom as his fuel, rather than a dogged youth who overcomes adversity through the hot-blooded beating heart of communism in his chest. Devastating and tragic without being in the least bit superficially violent, Ivan's Childhood is simultaneously dirty and beautifully shot even though it lacks anything in the way of grand tracking shots, with Tarkovsky's cinematography conveying an almost alien nature to the landscape in his efforts to display a world of conflict that molds and reshapes the innocent mind into something far more warped and irredeemable. One of the most accomplished feature directorial debuts of all time, with elements that would continued to be refined in Tarkovsky's later masterpieces. (4/5)

My second favorite film of all time, and I'm a 52-year-old movie junkie.

Other than Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, it's difficult to think of a more accomplished directorial debut than Andrei Tarkovsky's Ivan's Childhood. Set on the Russian front during World War 2 as the German army advances, a young Russian boy seeks revenge for the killing of his family by conducting reconnaissance work for the Russian army. Other than a handful of POV shots that feel out of place, Tarkovsky shows his mastery of composition with a steady stream of beautifully framed shots of the theater of war mixed with sometimes surreal flashbacks of Ivan's childhood. It's a beautiful film that foreshadowed the greatness of what was to come from Tarkovsky.

Andrei Tarkovsky's feature directorial debut is very straightforward and lightweight in comparison to his later work. However, this World War II drama is brutal and haunting in its depiction of the casualties of the war, and rewarding and engrossing in its depiction of human relationships, and it features some of the distinctive directorial traits that would define his career in the years to come, like beautiful cinematography, ambitious storytelling, poetic visuals, cruel and dark atmosphere, and a deep exploration of humanity and religious beliefs.

This movie, while it never should be entertaining, did not keep my attention. Schindler's list, while a much less subtle film, kept my attention. This did not. I typically really like visual poetry and symbolism - Eraserhead is my favorite movie - but this film came off very vague and at the points I did understand it, quite sexist. All in all it was hard to make heads or tails of this movie. The cinematography was great though.

'Ivan's Childhood' is arguably the harbinger of Tarkowski's greatness, his first long feature, the one that announced what a long lasting impact he will have on the world of cinema. Evidently much more structurally disheveled than it could have been, the film lacks discipline with Tarkowski's overreliance on beautiful, effective, albeit sometimes misplaced dream sequences. However, the gravity instilled in each and every shot is perfect for moody war filmmaking, the heavily nuanced characters develop fascinating dynamics amongst them and the ending being absolutely haunting is an understatement. Moreover, 'Ivan's Chilhood', the first good glimpse into what some call one of Europe's most engrossing cinematic minds, is a technical achievement as much as it as emotional and obligatory watch. One cannot help but wonder what this film would have looked like without any political restrictions. Maybe more thoroughly polished and shinier, but perhaps not as effectively heart-breaking.

Ivan's Childhood was directed by Andrei Tarkovsky and was released in 1962. This film centers around the life of an orphaned child solider during World War II, from the perspective of his reality verses his dreams. What makes this movie worth watching is the stunning performance given by the main character Ivan (Nikolai Burlyaev). He snatches your attention from the beginning of his performance until the end. The acting in this film is un parallel. Ivan's character takes up his whole space in his scenes and he gives a strong, and unforgettable performance. He clearly stands out from the rest of the cast, making the adults in the film seem like amateurs. Seeing a child, while equally seeing what seems like a seasoned and capable solider is an amazing experience. A scene that stands out, is when Ivan is running on the beach. There is no dialogue in this particular scene but Tarkovsky uses a rear camera angle and light to convey a sense of freedom for Ivan. Seeing him running through the sparkling water, unburdened by the world as a child should be really draws in the viewer and makes you long for a carefree life for Ivan as much as he did One element that could have made this film stronger would be to give a little more backstory on some of the characters. You see the dynamics change with each person Ivan interacts with and it would have been helpful to the film to get a deeper understanding of how those bonds were formed. . History enthusiast, especially those who have studied the impact of World War two in Europe, would really enjoy this film. If you are very sensitive to children's issues or the ravages of war, I wouldn't recommend watching this film. Certain parts of this film, especially the end, are very raw and graphic. You get a real look at what is means to be in the middle of a war-torn country and how no one is spared, not even the children. The horror of having children act as soldiers is a reality that thankfully most of us are removed from, but this film brings in front and center. Overall, this is an amazing film. It has somewhat of a surprise ending, but the journey through the film is well worth is. The director's use of lighting, shapes, symbols, and setting adds an entire cast of "silent actors" to the film, adding as much depth to the film as the actors. This film is artistic and impactful as would be a great pick to watch. I would give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars!

A child with a dark past and a lust for vengeance, a soldier haunted by the scars of war, eerie dreams and flashbacks that ring with insanity: all of this and more awaits you in Tarkovsky's acclaimed work, Ivan's Childhood. Produced in 1962, this film is an intense experience that will likely leave you feeling… unfulfilled. If you like happy endings, stay as far from this film as you can. What makes this film fantastic is the feeling that at any moment, something could go wrong. When there is music playing, it's tense. When the characters are flirting, there's an eerie electricity that can't quite be explained. When a character experiences a flashback, there's always an unnerving sensation that the scene will suddenly become dangerous. The brilliance of Tarkovsky's direction comes in his decision to combine the seemingly harmless dream world with the destructive reality of war, thereby creating a constant feeling of chaos. For example, in the scene where the nurse (Masha) is flirted with by a Captain (Captain Kholin), Masha seems always on the edge of running away. When he kisses her, it's an uncomfortable moment, and the scene right after is of her walking aimlessly through a dark wood. There is always a feeling of unrest. Though the film is a powerhouse of cinema, its weak points come in the form of its complication. In other words, it's not an easy watch. Unless you're aware of the fact that you're watching an in-depth art piece of a film, you may find yourself scratching your head at the intensity of it all. While this does not take away from the beauty of the film, it does narrow its audience to those who will appreciate its meaning. One of the audiences who may not appreciate it would be, for example, small children, though if you enjoy taking your children to Russian war films by all means take them to see this one as well. Overall judgment of the film? It is astounding. The tone of the movie is fascinating and it's hard not to get wrapped up in the peril of Tarkovsky's directing. I would gladly give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Another masterful work by Tarkovsky. The ending scene is simply hypnotizing.

Even in the first films of Tarkovsky you can see his emerging style and a great attention to details. Beautifully shot. The film stands out from the most of WW2 films made in Soviet Union, which were usually easier to digest and more propaganda-like, showing only the best qualities of the soldiers, leaving all the bad things happening at war behind the camera. That's what Tarkovsky's film is opposite to.

This is one of the films that you know is â~important' when going in and the fact that it is Russian and concerns a lot of men in the military served to further alienate me. Watching the film I found it remarkably easy to connect with as it never tries to be bigger than the story of three different men, or boy in one case, and their struggles during a few days in the war. Tarkovsky seems to understand how to challenge the idea of war without devolving into rambling monologues or painfully self righteous dialogue instead he gives us flawed but simple characters who have human concerns. I would recommend this to people because it manages to convey a simple idea well and for an art-house classic it's accessible and short. Ivan Bondarev, Nikolai Burlyayev, swims to a military post where he meets Lieutenant Galtsev, Evgeny Zharikov, who is initially resistant to accepting him. Lieutenant Colonel Gryaznov, Nikolai Grinko, is Galtsev's superior and he urges him to accept and protect Ivan. It is quickly revealed that Ivan's family was murdered by German soldiers and he was able to escape. A love triangle develops between Galtsev, local nurse Masha, Valentina Malyavina, and his direct superior Kholin, Valentin Zubkov. Ivan is determined to get revenge for the murder of his family members but will come to a tragic end. Throughout we see flashbacks to Ivan's life on the beach and his loving mother running ahead of him. The most affecting moments for me were the flashbacks as we see him remember the warmth and comfort that came with his mother. The final scene in the film is a flashback of sorts as we understand that Ivan has been hanged, we see his head spinning, the contrasting of this with his memory of a day in which he and his mother ran, carefree, down a beach was utterly depressing. The idea of clinging to family is relatable to all audiences and the sharp divisions between the joy he felt as a child and the pain and fear he faces as he forced to become an adult due to the war. The dialogue is sparing and well used as it conveys subtle details like the fact that Galtsev is attracted to Masha without directly saying it. Ivan's attempts to convince those around him that he is capable of taking down those who murdered his family are obviously in vain but screenwriter Vladmir Bogomolov captures the speaking style of a twelve year old well. The tone of the film is remarkably breezy while not turning away from the harshness of war and it manages to tell the smaller stories of the characters' lives without becoming too caught up in them or not developing them enough. The cinematography is impressive as Vadim Yusov, who would go on to work with Tarkovsky several more times, uses moody black and white to display just how hard life in Russia was at that time. The flashbacks are always shown as sunny as there is a brightness and a softness to the shots of the beach that are completely different to the harsh angles and lines of the military outpost. All of this seems obvious but it is an obvious visual cue done well which causes it to have more effect than if the film had a complex and hard to understand visuals. The score is also minimal, Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov manages to illustrate the points that Tarkovsky attempts to make with each scene and never calls out a moment with excessively dramatic music. The near perfect technical execution of this raises it from good to great as Tarkovsky proves with just his first feature film that he can assemble great talent. This film manages to show the audience why war is bad more articulately than most films I have seen. A big part of this is the brevity because you never become tired of these characters and you get the simple message without extraneous scenes and dialogue. Having recently watched Dances with Wolves (1990) I was thrilled to see such a short but meaningful film that is expertly crafted. This is one of those pictures that stays with you, I know the final shots will haunt me.

It did take me a while to really get into this film. The first time I saw it I was really bored by this movie. I did learn to appreciate this film the more I understood more about Tarkovsky's style of slow cinema. Once you understand him more, you'll probably appreciate this movie more.

Wow, Andrei was really flexing his creative muscles in this one. An incredibly personal story set inmidst the war. Every stillframe could be printed and would make for amazing wall art. Brillant camerawork from Wadim Jussow and extraordinary transitions make the movie float from scene to scene and create an exuberant experience that won't allow you to blink even once.

we had to watch a few Tarkovsky films for a class and i was amazed by this. especially after watching Nostalghia. this was more concrete and real but still playing with the theme of memory and it is also more aesthetically pleasing in the midst of war. it reminded me of The search with montgomery clift but this is like the harsh reality version.