The Sacrifice (1986) - 4K Ultra HD Evaluation

      The Sacrifice, 1986.

      Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky.

      Featuring Erland Josephson, Susan Fleetwood, Allan Edwall, Guðrún S. Gísladóttir, Sven Wollter, Valérie Mairesse, Filippa Franzen, Tommy Kjellqvist.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Andrei Tarkovsky's final film, the profoundly meditative The Sacrifice, is now available on 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber. This is my first time watching the film, although I believe it has been released on 4K before. In any case, the accompanying Blu-ray offers a solid selection of extras. I highly recommend it.

      This might not have been the ideal movie for my first viewing, especially considering my current state (my job search is dragging on, and my marriage is struggling), but I had made a request for it, so I felt obliged to watch. Since I had never seen a Tarkovsky film before, I was eager to experience one.

      The Sacrifice, Tarkovsky's last film before he lost his battle with cancer, intrigued me as a friend had mentioned it back in the 1990s. His description of a story where individuals navigate personal matters against the backdrop of World War III lingered in my mind.

      The central characters include Alexander (Erland Josephson), a retired actor turned writer living in a secluded part of Sweden with his wife Adelaide (Susan Fleetwood), stepdaughter Marta (Filippa Franzen), and young son known as “Little Man” (Tommy Kjellqvist).

      The film begins with Alexander and Little Man, who is mute following a throat surgery, planting a tree on Alexander's birthday. However, Alexander is grappling with an existential crisis that intensifies when the sound of a fighter jet disrupts the family's gathering.

      They switch on the TV and radio to discover that World War III has begun. Adelaide collapses in despair, and Alexander, contemplating suicide, reconsiders his earlier doubts about God, offering to strike a deal with a higher power to reverse the situation.

      If you are familiar with Ingmar Bergman’s films, you might anticipate the tone and pacing of The Sacrifice. Running at 142 minutes, the narrative is straightforward, but it’s a film that prompts deep reflections on life and existence, reminiscent of themes explored by other creators whose works starkly contrast this narrative.

      As I mentioned, I wasn’t in the best mindset for this viewing, but I aim to submit my reviews promptly, and I can't blame the film for my current mood. I plan to revisit The Sacrifice when I'm in a more positive state of mind, but at present, I can appreciate Tarkovsky's intentions with this film, which leans more toward meditation rather than a conventional storyline.

      This 4K Ultra HD version of the film showcases it in the best possible format for home viewing. If you are a fan, I believe you will be pleased with its appearance. Kino Lorber has opted to include only the film and a commentary track on the 4K disc, while another copy of the film and additional extras are available on the Blu-ray.

      Although there aren't many bonus features, those included are substantial and insightful, starting with a commentary by Layla Alexander-Garret, Tarkovsky’s translator during filming. A moderator interjects occasionally to guide her, but the discussion is generally a free-flowing analysis of the film by someone intimately involved.

      The film’s editor, Michał Leszczyłowski, also appears in a 32-minute interview discussing his collaboration with Tarkovsky, and he directed the excellent 101-minute documentary Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, released in 1988.

      Included in the release are trailers for The Sacrifice as well as Tarkovsky's 1983 film Nostalghia.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook