The Sacrifice (1986)
"Offret" (original title)

At the dawn of WWIII a man searches for a way to restore peace to the world and finds he must give something in return.

Director:

Andrei Tarkovsky

Writer:

Andrei Tarkovsky (scenario)

Stars:

Erland Josephson, Susan Fleetwood, Allan Edwall

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 8 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Erland Josephson	...	Alexander
Susan Fleetwood	...	Adelaide
Allan Edwall	...	Otto
Guðrún Gísladóttir	...	Maria (as Guðrún S. Gísladóttir)
Sven Wollter	...	Victor
Valérie Mairesse	...	Julia
Filippa Franzén	...	Marta
Tommy Kjellqvist	...	Gossen
Per Källman	...	Ambulansförare
Tommy Nordahl	...	Ambulansförare
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tintin Anderzon	...	(voice)
Helena Brodin	...	(voice)
Birgit Carlstén	...	(voice)
Jane Friedmann	...	(voice)
Martin Lindström	...	(voice)

Storyline

Alexander, a journalist and former actor and philosopher, tells his little son how worried he is about the lack of spirituality of modern mankind. In the night of his birthday, the third world war breaks out. In his despair Alexander turns himself in a prayer to God, offering him everything to have the war not happen at all.

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Plot Keywords:

dream | spirituality | self immolation | hope | apocalypse | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Sweden UK France

Language:

Swedish French English

Release Date:

November 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Sacrifice

Filming Locations:

Filmhusateljéerna, Filmhuset, Svenska Filminstitutet, Gärdet, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Box Office

Gross:

$300,653 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI), Argos Films, Film Four International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The line quoted by Alexander, "Which of you have done this?", is taken from "Macbeth".

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Quotes

[first lines]
[sub-titled]
Alexander: Come here and give me a hand, my boy.

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Crazy Credits

Before end credits: "This film is dedicated to my son Andriosha - with hope and confidence. Andrei Tarkovskij"

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Connections

Featured in Les enfants jouent à la Russie (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Matthäus-Passion: Erbarme Dich"
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Conducted by Wolfgang Gönnenwein
Sung by Julia Hamari
EMI-Electrola GmbH LC 0233

User Reviews

Tarkovsky's Final Masterpiece

Andrei Tarkovsky was without a doubt one of the genuine artist working in the cinema. With films such as "Andrei Rublev", "Solaris", "Mirror", Stalker" and "Nostalghia", Tarkovsky enriched the world with powerful works for art. "Sacrifice" was his final film, made while Tarkovsky was dying of cancer. The story concerns an elderly academic who lives with his family in a rural part of Sweden. When he learns that about an imminent nuclear war, he makes a desperate pact with God. The film is astonishingly beautiful, like all Tarkovsky's films. Images of nature, water and fire feature prominently, as does the shifting from colour images to black and white.

It is important to remember that Tarkovsky is not a very accessible film-maker, and his films make great demands on viewer's patience and attention, but if you are willing to make the effort you will be rewarded by an unforgettable experience.