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The Sacrifice (Offret) (12A)

Cold War Visions

— ,Cinema 1
A man, a baby and a tree

In his final film, exiled cinema master Andrei Tarkovsky explores a world on the brink of nuclear war.

Alexander’s (Erland Josephson) idyllic birthday celebrations on a remote Swedish island are interrupted by news about the break of World War III and an imminent nuclear catastrophe. Desperate, he vows to lose everything he loves if it will help prevent the disaster.

Made in Sweden and with some of Ingmar Bergman’s long-term collaborators, The Sacrifice bears elements of a reverie to the Swedish filmmaker. Yet, it remains unmistakably Tarkovskian, both stylistically and thematically. As philosophical as ever, Tarkovsky asks questions about the place of spirituality in a modern, technology-driven world.

Tagged with: Cinema Cold War Visions

In Swedish with English subtitles 

Film information
  • Release year   1986
  • Country of origin   Sweden/France/UK
  • Director   Andrei Tarkovsky
  • Runtime   2hr 29mins

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Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
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