“A grand, unworldly, even anti worldly religious vision that depends on its perfect pitch to avoid absurdity and bathos.” - Richard Brody, New Yorker
“As THE SACRIFICE comes full circle, returning to that spindly tree by the sea and its nurturing, the film itself emerges as a symbolic gesture of great emotional impact.” - Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Tarkovsky's final masterpiece is a haunting vision of a world threatened with nuclear annihilation. As a wealthy Swedish family celebrates the birthday of their patriarch, Alexander, news of the outbreak of World War III reaches their remote Baltic island—and the happy mood turns to horror. The family descends into a state of psychological devastation, brilliantly evoked by Tarkovsky's arresting palette of luminous greys washing over the bleak landscape around their home. For Alexander, a philosopher troubled about man's lack of spirituality, the prospect of certain extinction compels the ultimate sacrifice, and he enters into a Faustian bargain with God to save his loved ones from the fear which grips them. Made as he was dying of cancer, THE SACRIFICE is Tarkovsky's personal statement, a profoundly moving, redemptive tragedy steeped in unforgettable imagery and heart-wrenching emotion.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Grand Prize of the Jury, Cannes Film Festival
Winner - Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Cannes Film Festival
Nominee - Palme d'Or, Cannes Film Festival
Winner - Best Foreign Language Film, BAFTA Awards
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