The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Gems: Andrei Rublev (1966)

How do you choose what to watch on all those streaming services you have access to? There are so many options that it is just overwhelming. These services constantly release new content and overshadow all the great films from the past that are already there and ready to watch. Now there is The Wasteland Gems! Here is a great film on streaming right now that you should check out this weekend:

Andrei Rublev (1966)

When most people think of Russian cinema, who is that one name that they automatically go to? Andrei Tarkovsky. There have certainly been other Russian filmmakers who have left their stamp on the world of cinema…but no one quite like Tarkovsky. His filmography was not massive, but it was incredibly influential. Tarkovsky created the Russian counterpart to 2001: A Space Odyssey with Solaris. His film Stalker is another film that is one of the all-time great science fiction films out there. But Tarkovsky did not just excel in the realm of genre filmmaking. One of his greatest cinematic achievements is a biographical, historical drama called Andrei Rublev.

What is the most notable and engaging aspect of this towering historical drama? The filmmaking by Tarkovsky and his crew is impeccable. There are a few films that have been captured with such precise and fascinating visual panache, quite like Andrei Rublev. The black and white cinematography by Vadim Yusov is striking and gorgeous. Each frame of this film has such great depth and texture to it. Tarkovsky and Yusov make sure that the audience feels like they are drawn into this striking moving portrait of a by-gone period. The scope of the landscapes and sets are captured so well with will chosen wide frame photography. You feel the dirt and the grime of this period as well with Tarkovsky aiming for that naturalistic and engrossing feel. Most importantly, Tarkovsky knows when to refocus and bring the audience up nice and close to the characters. There are plenty of great acting moments that rely heavily on just how intimate the presentation of the film is. Scale and intimacy paired perfectly. Few films feel so lived in, but Tarkovsky can capture this naturalistic world of Rublev with excellence.

How does the acting bring this story of Rublev to life? Andrei Rublev tells the story of a fifteenth century Russian iconographer who travels across the lands of Russia. The titular religious man is brought to life by frequent Tarkovsky collaborator and lead in Stalker, Anatoliy Solonitsyn. Rublev is not a boisterous or melodramatic type. His reserved presence is one that is hard to capture believably while still making the lead a compelling and engrossing character to follow around for the three hours plus runtime of Rublev. But Solonitsyn can find that balance with a sharp and striking performance. The intimacy of the cinematography does allow Solonitsyn to deliver a much more restrained and subtler performance. The presence that Rublev has in this film is unmatched. He enters somewhere and Solonitsyn commands all the attention through this poise, stares, and body language. For such a quiet and reserved performance, Solonitsyn can capture an intensity and strength that is compelling to watch, especially as Rublev is confronted with such impactful and significant things.

But does Tarkovsky’s film offer up a story and ideas that are compelling to draw the audience in for a three-hour picture? Andrei Rublev tackles one of the most timeless and oldest themes to be tackled in art…religion and faith. Naturally, a film about a religious figure would tackle such concepts and Tarkovsky navigates them with his impeccable handle on the cinematic medium. This film explores faith in an engrossing and layered way. We witness Rublev engaging with the peasants and working class of this Russian society and see how God and faith factor into their lives (with some powerful moments for sure). You also get to see where Rublev fits in with the more structured and formal nature of the institution of religion. You see how faith fits into the historical context of conflict and war. Tarkovsky is not known for these more grounded narratives, but he finds success in this dynamic and layered film.

Are you ready to take in a 189-minute Russian epic religious experience? That might sound so unappetizing in 2025, but Tarkovsky’s work is so immaculate. Andrei Rublev is a rich film with dynamic scope and depth. A strong central performance, gorgeous cinematography, and layered themes make this a great film from a master filmmaker.

Andrei Rublev is streaming on The Criterion Channel.