“One of the boldest, most indelible directorial debuts in the history of cinema.” - Harrison Sherrod, Cine-File
Tarkovsky’s debut feature, IVAN’S CHILDHOOD, is a poetic journey through the shards and shadows of one boy’s war-ravaged youth. Moving back and forth between the traumatic realities of World War II and serene moments of family life before the conflict began, Tarkovsky’s film remains one of the most jarring and unforgettable depictions of the impact of war on children.
Awards & Nominations
1962 Venice Film Festival - Winner, Golden Lion
1962 San Francisco International Film Festival - Winner, Best Director
Andrei Tarkovsky Retrospective
August 29–September 30, 2026
Born in Moscow and ending his life in exile, filmmaker, screenwriter, and film theorist, Andrei Tarkovsky (1932–1986) created some of cinema’s most indelible images in his relatively small filmography. Employing an innovative approach to cinematic time and painstaking world-building, Tarkovsky’s films are rich metaphysical explorations into historical and 20th-century Russian and Soviet life. Born to literary parents, his movies exhibit an innate poetic sensibility; small gestures and grand set-pieces become rich expressions of inner life, spirituality, and shared anxiety. Working often with cinematographer Vadim Yusov, Tarkovsky created a visual style that feels contemporary even 40 years after his death.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu