The Mirror

Probably the most autobiographical and philosophical work of Andrej Tarkovskij (1932 – 1986) is woven from dreams, suggestions, associations and metaphors. The returning shots of mirrors, functioning here among other things as metaphors for inner sight, emphasize the creative necessity to view oneself from distance. The dialogue forty-year old Alexej has with his mother is an attempt to identify all the influences his childhood – returning to him in both day and night dreams – has had upon him. When in hospital, he has plenty of time of final balancing of his life, in which he got divorced as his parents did, thus putting his son into a situation he himself has experienced.