Product: My Name Is Ivan [VHS] (1963)
Rating: 5.0
Ivan's Childhood
Ivan's Childhood is Tarkovsky's first main film, and his most conventional. It takes place during WW2 in Russia. We follow 12 year old Ivan who is a scout for the military. His dark everyday reality is contrasted with his dreams which are light and joyful. The film contains images and themes that are typical of Tarkovsky, like the sometimes diffuse border between dream and reality. Also, the landscape is not a typical war scene but rather more dreamlike.The transfer of the DVD is excellent and the details of some images are incredible. Also, the introduction by Vida Johnson is really worth listening to.