Nostalgia (AUS) ( Nostalghia ) ( Nostalgiya )

Nostalgia is a film brimming with sumptuous images, dream like and evocative. Set in Italy, a visiting Russian poet (a thinly disguised Tarkovsky) questions the nature of memory and exile. Throughout the film he is haunted by flashbacks of his past and home, as he wanders through the landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria, encountering frescos of Piero della Francesca, images of candle lit altars. One particular scene of a woman walking across water with a candle has remained one of the most memorable I have seen in a film. Not exactly a racing plot, but the sheer visual nature of the narrative makes up for that. A 'must see' for hard-core Tarkovsky fans and newcomers alike.

This DVD edition of "Nostalgia" comes with two rare documentaries made at the time of the film's production. "Tempo di Viaggio" and "Tarkovsky In Nostalgia". Both offer fascinating insight into Tarkovsky's working method and include footage of him talking with Italian script-writing maestro Tonino Guerra, who has worked with Fellini, Antonioni and Angelopolous.

The picture quality of the film is excellent but there is a major drawback regarding the soundtrack. For the first 30 minutes of the film (Disc 1), there is a distractingly audible crackle and hiss noise. This is completely unacceptable in a DVD format and I am very curious to know if other buyers have experienced a similar problem with their copy.

Apart from this serious fault, "Nostalgia" plus 2 documentaries is a most welcome addition to the Tarkovsky DVD library.

I've seen all of Tarkovsky's films bar "The Sacrifice" and I think "Nostalgia" is possibly the best of them all. Deeply spiritual and pregnant with meaning, "Nostalgia" features some breathtaking cinematography and contains many memorable, visually arresting scenes, such as Eugenia's visit to the church, Gorchakov's meeting with Domenico in his dilapidated house, the flooded church ruins, Domenico's rant atop a statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome ,Gorchakov's walk through St Catherine's Pool with a candle ,and many more. "Nostalgia" is a film about alienation in all it's forms; it highlights the problems of living in an alien culture and homesickness, alienation from other people, alienation from society and ultimately from life itself. The central character ,Gorchakov, goes on a spiritual journey as the film progresses , especially after his meeting with the lunatic mystic, Domenico. Haunted by memories of his family in Russia and facing the frustrated ire of his attractive Italian interpreter ,Eugenia, for not "trying it on" with her, Gorchakov finds consolation in metaphysical reflection ,an exploration of the religious vision of life and ultimately a search for Salvation. "Nostalgia" features many of Tarkovsky's favourite images; running water, horses,dogs, rain, mists and spilt milk and the director, through his characters and cinematography ,seems to be making a pantheistic plea for humanity to re-embrace nature ,which is equated closely with the Divine in this film. Every image and sound is exquisitely sculpted by Tarkovsky in "Nostalgia" and the acting is excellent as well. Like all of Tarkovsky's films, "Nostalgia" is thought provoking and profound and undoubtedly will repay multiple viewings.