Ivan's Childhood - Criterion Collection
by Andrei Tarkovsky
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DVD Cover Information
Director: Andrei TarkovskyBrand: Image Entertainment
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); German (Original Language); Russian (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 95 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-07-24
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Criterion
Movie Reviews of Ivan's Childhood - Criterion Collection
Movie Review: Poetic and profound; a superb example of artistic achievement...
Summary: 5 Stars
Few films are able to capture the thin line that runs between a child's innocence and an adult's corruption quite like `Ivanovo Detstvo'. With rich visual detail and carefully established characters, `Ivanovo Detstvo' is a marvelously crafted film that attacks a very mature subject with the delicacy needed to carry the air of a child's perspective.
I just recently (as in a few minutes ago) reviewed `El Espiritu de la Colmena' (The Spirit of the Beehive) and made the comment that both this film and that one are similar in structure and meaning. After I published that review I realized that I didn't expound upon that as much as I needed to, and thus wanted to write this one in order to do just that. Some who have seen both films may imidiatly find my statement false, claiming that `Ivanovo Detstvo' is clearly about revenge while `El Espiritu de la Colmena' is far from a revenge tale, and in that respect you are correct; but my statement was not made to insinuate that at all. What I meant by the comparison was that both films are about a child's perception of an adult's world. In `El Espiritu de la Colmena' you have a young girl trying to understand her surroundings and resorting to a fairy tale like masking in order to find solace. Here you have a young man who is so ravaged by his violent past that he is forced to thrust himself into a world he doesn't understand in order to find some sort of closure. Like `El Espiritu de la Colmena', the contrast between reality and fantasy is prevalent and poignant within `Ivanovo Detstvo'.
I just wanted to get that off my chest.
This film tells the tragic story of young Ivan, a twelve-year-old orphan who has vowed to avenge his murdered family by working as a spy against the German's during World War II. Because of his small size and his controlled demeanor he has been able to cross enemy lines undetected and thus been allowed to remain in the front lines, but his age and his background have caused some to suggest he needs to be taken out of the danger zone and placed in military school. This does not mesh well with Ivan's idea or vengeance.
Famed director Andrei Tarkovsky made his directorial debut (of a full length feature) with this masterpiece and set the tone for his future work. The film is littered with startling and profound imagery that make a lasting impact and speak volumes to the viewer. From the haunting (barren homes and the well) to the shocking (empty nooses and guillotines) to the monumental (planes protruding from sandy shores and apples shared over a joyride) to the beautiful and heartwarming (the suspended kiss over the ravine and the carefree run down the beach), `Ivanovo Detstvo' is as impressive visually as it is emotionally. Tarkovsky knew how to mold a devastatingly real film without overdoing it.
The acting is superb all the way around, with a few standouts. Nikolay Burlyaev is outstanding as young Ivan, capturing this young boys every clouded motive. Yevgeni Zharikov is also very effective as the young lieutenant unsure of his feelings regarding Ivan's military service. To me though, the films major standout is Valentin Zubkov. He manages to make Captain Kholin a beautiful patchwork of human emotions. His paternal feelings towards Ivan, his loyalty to country that often clouds that paternal affection and his personal desire to leave it all behind for greener pastures are all prevent and brought to the forefront thanks to Zubkov's rich and powerful performance.
Clearly one of the best films of the 60's and, quite frankly, one of the best films of all time; `Ivanovo Detstvo' is as timeless as they come and remains a must see for anyone remotely interested in cinema.
Summary of Ivan's Childhood - Criterion Collection
The debut feature from the great Andrei Tarkovsky, Ivan's Childhood is an evocative, poetic journey through the shadows and shards of one boy's war-torn youth. Moving back and forth between the traumatic realities of WWII and the 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 violence on children in wartime.Art House & International DVD Video
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