Can I just say FINALLY? I know Mirror has been out via Artificial Eye in the U.K. For years now, but is a relief to have all of Andrei Tarkovsky’s work available on Region A Blu-ray, and sealing up the collection this month is the director’s autobiographical Mirror. Mirror is one of the Tarkovsky films I am least familiar with, while it’s had DVD releases the only time I’ve seen it was a 35mm screening at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz about 5 years ago, where it certainly made an impact. Rewatching it now years later, allowed me to soak in greater details, and fully take on the film’s images and themes (You never watch a Tarkovsky one time, never).
If Fellini’s Amarcord was a celebration of his life and childhood. Mirror is an ominous and poetic reflection an Tarkovsky’s. The film sort of follows Alexei, who is only heard in voice over. Alexei, is a poet in his 40’s, and is possibly dying. He reflects on his existence from his childhood in the 1930’s, his adolescent period in the 1940’s, and his present day in the 1960’s raising a son of his own.
The film is wall to wall packed with powerful imagery, but this should be no shock coming from Tarkovsky. When I saw this 5 years ago, I couldn’t exactly make sense of the inter cutting imagery and how it came together, watching it now just deepened the experience. With new revelations being put forth in every moment coupled with the chilling and atmospheric cinematography of Georgi Rerberg, Mirror becomes a simply unforgettable experience.
Criterion presents Mirror in a 1080p transfer that is absolutely STUNNING. The whole affair with it’s shifting image types (and varying film stocks) is kept together with a consistent film like look while preserving Tarkovsky’s intent. Audio is presented with an LPCM mono track in Russian and sounds excellent.
Extras include a documentary by Tarkovsky’s son called a Cinema Prayer that digs deep into the director’s work, packed with behind the scenes footage and more. We then get a 2nd disc loaded with interviews, documentaries, an analysis of the film that runs over an hour and much more. Criterion’s release of Mirror is a much needed entry into the collection and is highly recommended