Andrei Rublev (film)
A film about faith, artistry, and medieval Russia.
Andrei Rublev (Russian: Андрей Рублёв, romanized: Andrey Rublyov) is a 1966 Soviet epic biographical historical drama directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, who co-wrote the screenplay with Andrei Konchalovsky. The film was re-edited from Tarkovsky’s earlier 1966 work, *The Passion According to Andrei*, which was censored during the first decade of the Brezhnev era in the Soviet Union. It is loosely based on the life of the 15th-century Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev. The cast includes Anatoly Solonitsyn, Nikolai Grinko, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolai Sergeyev, Nikolai Burlyayev, and Tarkovsky’s wife, Irma Raush. Savva Yamshchikov, a noted Russian restorer and art historian, served as the film’s scientific consultant.
Set in early 15th-century Russia, the film does not closely follow Rublev’s biography but aims to present a realistic portrait of medieval Russia. Tarkovsky intended to show the artist as a “world-historic figure” and to treat Christianity as an axiom of Russia’s historical identity during a turbulent period. He also explored the intersection of faith and artistry. In his book *Sculpting in Time*, Tarkovsky wrote that it is a mistake to say an artist “looks for” a subject; rather, the subject grows within the artist like a fruit and demands expression, comparing the process to childbirth. He stated that the poet is not master but servant, and that creative work is the only possible form of existence, requiring faith to interlock the system of images. In *Andrei Rublev*, Tarkovsky depicts the philosophy that faith is necessary for art, thereby commenting on the role of faith in the secular, atheist society in which he made the film.
Because of its themes—artistic freedom, religion, political ambiguity, and autodidacticism—the film was not released domestically in the Soviet Union under state atheism for years after its completion, except for a single 1966 screening in Moscow. A version was shown at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI prize. In 1971, a censored version was released in the Soviet Union. For its 1973 U.S. release through Columbia Pictures, the film was further cut for commercial reasons. As a result, several versions exist.
Despite censorship that obscured and truncated the film for many years, it was soon recognized by many Western critics and film directors as highly original and accomplished. After being restored to it
- director
- Andrei Tarkovsky
- country
- Soviet Union
- year
- 1966
- genre
- Epic biographical historical drama
- subject
- Andrei Rublev, 15th-century Russian icon painter
- notable_cast
- Anatoly Solonitsyn, Nikolai Grinko, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolai Sergeyev, Nikolai Burlyayev, Irma Raush
Lore & Background
The film is divided into a prologue, eight episodes, and an epilogue, dealing with transitional moments in the life of the icon painter. The prologue features a hot air balloon flight by a man named Yefim, who crash-lands. The first episode, 'The Jester (Summer 1400),' introduces wandering monks Andrei, Daniil, and Kirill, who encounter a jester later arrested by soldiers. The second episode, 'Theophanes the Greek (Summer–Winter–Spring–Summer 1405–1406),' shows Kirill visiting master painter Theophanes, who eventually hires Andrei instead of Kirill, leading to Kirill's jealous departure from the monastery.
Reader's Guide
Andrei Rublev was not released domestically in the Soviet Union under the doctrine of state atheism until years after completion, except for a single 1966 screening in Moscow. A version was shown at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, winning the FIPRESCI prize. In 1971, a censored version was released in the Soviet Union, and further cuts were made for the 1973 U.S. release through Columbia Pictures. Despite censorship, the film was recognized by many western critics and film directors as highly original and accomplished. After restoration to its original version, it has come to be regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, often ranking highly in Sight & Sound critics' and directors' polls. Tarkovsky sought to depict the artist as a 'world-historic figure' and Christianity as an axiom of Russia's historical identity, exploring the intersection of faith and artistry.
Did You Know?
- The film was re-edited from Tarkovsky's 1966 film titled The Passion According to Andrei.
- Savva Yamshchikov, a famous Russian restorer and art historian, served as scientific consultant.
- The film features Tarkovsky's wife Irma Raush in the cast.
- A censored version was released in the Soviet Union in 1971, and further cuts were made for the 1973 U.S. release.
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