The Sacrifice

The film has full philosophical conversations, ideas and themes. While some conversations feel pretentious and some really make you think. These philosophical takes do not apply to one thing, Tarkovsky talks about faith, god, spirituality, science and humankind. I think in his film Tarkovsky didn't want to leave a single stone unturned. He talks about life, death, rebirth, fear, destruction, civilization, beliefs and the future through a story of man who believes he has to sacrifice something to change the fate. The film also has his trademark elements of ambiguity, scenes that blur the line between dream and reality. And an epic ending with abstract takeaways for each individual. Story can be interpreted into majorly three ways, one who believes in supernatural elements will feel this was an act of witch, the one who believes in god will find meaning from text of Christianity and Abraham story who sacrifices his son because he thinks god told him to, and there are people who believe in science and more rigid believe that Alexander had nervous breakdown, and his mental health issues drastically pushes him to edge when he fears world will end because of third world war and he has to do something about it. Every take has some meaning to it and each one can be true. with all Tarkovsky films, I believe it should be experienced visually and totally get lost in it, then later after the film is over, one can contemplate on the plot and dialogues finding your own meaning. His films are definitely a multi-step process for me. His films are nothing less than beautiful art on canvas.