Il rullo compressore e il violino

Roots are sometimes dirty.

This student film from Russia's greatest film genius does a lot with it's short running time. This should mostly be seen for no other reason than it is the roots of genius. There is no epic story telling just a well told two story of two Russians from different worlds who for one day are able to be the friends they are looking for.

The camera work is interesting…albeit sometimes overly arty. However in a short student film that is kinda the point huh? I was lucky to get this at the library and I would say this is worth a rental not purchase unless you're a diehard fan.

Tarkovsky from the outset was out of this world. Hard to believe this was a student film. Stunning work. The scene where Sasha finally plays his violin in front of Sergei contains one of my absolutely favorite shots ever. Sergei's face bathed in the moving shadows of light as he listens to this innocent and pure child channeling humanity's wonderful capacity for simple, pure beauty.

A gentle tale of a boy-violinist who is taunted by his peers and misunderstood by the predominantly female figures in his life (mother, music teacher, little girl-violinist), but introduced to the world of "manliness" by a chance encounter with a member of the working class. Both boy and man are enriched by the interchange, which crosses lines of class and age.

For fans of Tarkovsky, it is more revealing as a foretaste of visual images in the filmmaker's later work than of thematic development. But as a study of human psychology and an image of life in the former Soviet Union, it is a source of much to contemplate. Since the story line has certain gaps in it (the editing seems more image- than plot-oriented), however, it bears watching through twice (at 43 minutes, this is not a cumbersome task!)

Strongly recommended. Tarkovsky initial work showing multiple glimpses of his genius. This short film has great depth and detail. Personally it is was the only Tarkovsky film that I had not seen, and now that I have I rate it very highly. In retrospect to his ouvre it may be strong to use the term "masterpiece", but regardless it is so. It is also probably the most accessible for viewers not familiar with his work and could prove as a perfect introduction. I urge you to see it.

My Rating : 7/10

Decent first film from one of the greatest film directors of all time.

While it isn't representative of Tarkovsky's philosophy of sculpting in time which he developed later on it's a very Soviet film culturally.

Sweet, ordinary and very accessible unlike the metaphysical, slow arthouse oeuvre to follow later from the great Russian maestro.