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The Sacrifice (1986)

Offret (original title)
PG | | Drama | November 1986 (USA)
The Sacrifice Poster
At the dawn of World War III, a man searches for a way to restore peace to the world and finds he must give something in return.

Director:

(as Andrei Tarkovskij)

Writer:

(scenario)

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
Reviews

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From $3.99 (SD) on Prime Video

ON DISC
Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Credited cast:
... Alexander
... Adelaide
... Otto
Guðrún Gísladóttir ... Maria (as Guðrún S. Gísladóttir)
... Victor
... Julia
Filippa Franzén ... Marta
... Gossen
Per Källman ... Ambulansförare
Tommy Nordahl ... Ambulansförare
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
... (voice)
... (voice)
Birgit Carlstén ... (voice)
Jane Friedmann ... (voice)
Martin Lindström ... (voice)
See full cast »
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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. Written by Gert de Boer

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

it was all a dream | self immolation | witchcraft | insanity | dream | See All (21) »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

| |

Language:

| |

Release Date:

November 1986 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

The Sacrifice  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,696, 22 October 2017, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$300,653
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The part where Alexanders tells Little Man about when they found their house, is actually the story of how Andrei Tarkovsky and his wife, Larisa Tarkovskaya, found their house in the U.S.S.R. See more »

Quotes

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

Crazy Credits

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

Connections

Edited into Cinéma, de notre temps: Une journée d'Andrei Arsenevitch (2000) See more »

Soundtracks

Nezasa No Shirabe
Performed by Watazumido-Shuso (Hotchiku flöjt)
The Everest Record Group 3289
See more »

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User Reviews

Slow but satisfying.
1 December 2001 | by – See all my reviews

Quite possibly my favourite film. Quite why I'm not always sure -- perhaps this is really a rather pretentious film ? Perhaps one in which a long time is spent without engaging the audience ? One with perhaps the most unlikely postman one might meet outside of a Bergman film set ? But, from the moment the camera opens lovingly on the icon, to the closing as the ambulance drives away, I find myself captivated, and drawn back to watch again. As with Tarkovsky's other films, certain images linger long in the memory:"little man" watering the ikebana, the levitating witch, the crashing milk jug, the roar of the jets. For those of us cursed with a lifetime of weekly wage slavery this is a fine restorative film for the spirit.
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