For religious man nature is never only natural; it is always fraught [full] with a religious value the cosmos

s is a divine creation; the world is impregnated with sacredness (Eliade) Every religion is an ontology: it reveals the being of the sacred things and the divine figures, it shows forth that which really is (Eliade)

Nostalghia for a new principle of montage through which he would be able of follow the characters thoughts in order to reveal their inner world.

 Tarkovskys heros always in conflict with external world: inner and outer realms not in harmony A principle of montage which would permit me to show the subjective logic the thought, the dream, the memory instead of the logic of the subject. Andrei is tormented by his nostalgia, which is a longing not only for his homeland, but also for something superior, almost transcendental, for a global yearning for the wholeness of existence (Tarkovsky )

 Domenicos self immolation is also a refusal of the surrounding reality. Dreams and memories constitute a world of harmony, spirituality and happiness, while the objective reality is chaotic, materialistic and full of despair. Poetic language is more appropriate in expressing complex and hidden aspects of life itself: There are some aspects of life that can only be faithfully represented through poetry (Tarkovsky ).

 T --- Dostoevskys words: D. uses dreams for developing thoughts for which ordinary language is inadequate!!

Eliade: Dreams, waking dreams, images of his nostalgias and of his enthusiasm, are so many forces that may project historically-conditioned human being into a spiritual world that is infinitely richer than closed world of his own historic moment. .. unconscious is far more poetic and let in add, more philosophic, more mythic than conscious

 All of Tarkovskys heros struggling between two worlds, objective reality and inner reality Strage in the eyes of others

Tarkovsky comments about his character Alexander from Sacrifice: he is a weak man but capable to act he is conscious of his link with the ultimate reality, with what could be termed world destiny

Two paths to salvation: the path of righteousness, for righteous, and the path of grace, for sinners; and I am a sinner. I have again made mistake of trying to achieve salvation through righteousness (Hesse). (Tarkovsky)

Creation and sacrifice: creation cannot take place except from a living being who is immolated. nothing can be created without immolation, without sacrifice. (Eliade)

 Greatness of modern man lies in protest. Thank God for people who burn themselves alive in front of an impassive, wordless crowd, or who walk out into squares with placards and slogans condemning themselves to reprisals, and all those who say No to go-getters and godless(T)

 Tolstoy Herzens words: If only instead of wanting to save the world, people wanted to save themselves, if only instead of wanting to free the world, they wanted to free themselves what a lot they could do for the salvation of the world and the liberation of humanity. (T.)

 If people around you are spiteful and callous and will not hear you, fall down before them and beg their forgiveness; for in truth you are to blame for their not wanting to hear you. .And if two of you are gathered together then there is a whole world, a world of living love. Embrace each other tenderly and praise God, for if only in you two His truth has been fulfilled. (Dostoevsky) Ive dreamed of only two being left (Dostoevesky in his Notebooks for The Brothers Karamazov)

 And even though your light was shining, yet you see men were not saved by it, hold firm and doubt not the power of the heavenly light. Believe that if they were not saved, they will be saved hereafter. And if they are not saved hereafter, then their sons will be saved, for your light will not die even when you are dead. The righteous man departs, but his light remains. Men are always saved after the death of the deliverer. You are working for the whole, you are acting for the future. Love to throw yourself on the earth and kiss it (p. 342).

 Russian writers who have been preoccupied by that fundamental religious problem: how to overcome evil and deify man and the world? They thought that their most fundamental vocation is to bring to the world, above all, the brotherhood of man and freedom of the spirit. They believed in the role of artist as a prophet, as the revealer of tragic in our century, when humanity has become more interested in material things than in spiritual ones.

 The sacrifice, the suffering, is the supreme act of faith. The modern man does not want to sacrifice himself, even if this is the only way for affirming himself (p. 39). Because for the religious man, and implicitly for Tarkovsky, there is always a unique final aim: salvation.

 Salvation from nothingness and death, and gaining the immortality. Behind any existential crisis, which determines mans struggle toward gaining access to the world of spirit and attaining to the universal, there is a non-confessed wish of acceding to immortality.

After all, despite everything, despite the cynicism and the materialism, man does believe in the Infinite, in Immortality (Tarkovsky)

 Sacred place = parental house, dacha The house itself losses its immediate significance (Tarkovsky: he disappointed when he visited, after a long time, the place of his childhood) -------- The place acquires cosmic dimensions; it is now the center of the world. Andreis dacha in miniature - Domenics house: House in house is a world in miniature, which the scholar set up in his house in order to partake in its concentrated mystical forces, in order, through meditation, to re-establish harmony with the world (Eliade).

Oleg Yankovsky 'I had just arrived in Rome. I was met by Tarkovsky, who I knew only slightly. That in itself was a miracle in those days: I suddenly found myself in Rome T: In fact the leading character promises a deranged man he will carry a burning candle through the waters of the Saint Catherine pool, and in so doing heal him. Why a candle?' I queried.

 'Because of the flame, the unprotected fire. Remember the candles in Orthodox churches, how they flicker. The very essence of things, the spirit, the spirit of fire. . lights a candle it's a thin, uncertain, weak flame and you cover this flame with your hand, the hand of a strong, grown man.

And you walk across the foul bed of the pool, trying not to slip or stumble, and all your will is concentrated on one thing: to save this weak flame, to keep it burning.

 You return to the place you already set out from twice before, light the candle again, cover it with your hand and venture out on this endless journey, carefully picking your way. You walk on and carry the candle to the end. Then you leave it at the edge of the pool, understanding that not only has a human life been saved, but that now a hand will always be found to protect the flame when you are no longer there. This is when the leading character understands he has carried out the most important task in his life. He slowly sinks to the foul-smelling bottom of the pool and dies.'

 Y: T: 'You see,' and Andrei suddenly changed to the familiar form of 'you' in Russian, 'if you can do that, if it really happens and you carry the candle to the end in one shot, straight, without cinematic conjuring tricks and cut-in editing then maybe this act will be the true meaning of my life. It will certainly be the finest shot I ever took if you can do it, if you can endure to the end.' Y: I could hardly speak: this was some 'simple scene'! 'Fine, I'll try, do my best.

 'You walk from over there, to that point there.' He pointed down the rails. 'This is where the candle goes out the first time. You go back, re-light the candle, and get this far.' Andrei showed me the place I had to get to the second time. 'Here the wind blows it out again. Then you find the strength to return yet again, and the third time you get to the end. No need to rehearse it,' he said, and kissed me. 'Of course I could help you by editing, cut-ins but there's no need. I feel there's no need. You'll do it. Good luck, good luck. And remember: we've only got one take.'