The Film (5/5)

    Though I recognize the powerful dramatics, tension, and overall beauty present in Tarkovsky's Ivan's Childhood. It is the film of his that I revisit the least. It is Tarkovsky’s second feature, Andrei Rublev, where Tarkovsky truly begin to connect for me. The film blends a certain stark realism, with a frame so well-composed and beautiful it would only come from the eye of Russia's greatest master. While each frame of the film is infused with the power and spirituality that Tarkovsky would become known for throughout his career.

    Andrei Rublev follows the spiritualist painter Andrei Rublev as he tries to find a place for himself and his art in the burgeoning Russian society of the 15th century. Accompanying him are 2 companions, also monks, like Andrei who are on a spiritual quest through their art. The film is told in episodic vignettes with a prologue and epilogue  The world depicted in Rublev is one going through chaos and change. From the opening moments when the creators of a hot-air balloon are attacked for their desires to take to the sky, we watch a society attempting to evolve with reluctance. In the midst of this world of poverty, war, and decay we follow Andrei as we as bystander and occasional forced participant in the events that unfold around him.

    The film like much of Tarkovsky's work has a gorgeous hypnotic quality that will certainly take a viewer in, and not let them move their eyes from the screen until it ends. The performances, which are not often mentioned are truly stunning and powerful, and the images Tarkovsky captured are truly iconic.

Audio/Video (4.5/5)

    Andrei Rublev is presented 2:35:1 in a 1080p AVC encoded transfer. Everything here looks quite splendid. Contrast is solid, detail is excellent, there is some damage from the source, but not too much to report. The extended "Passion According to Andrei" version is taken from a beaten up print supplied to Criterion by Martin Scorsese. It does not have the same positive attributes and much more damage from the source material, still it's fascinating.

    Audio is handled by an LPCM 1.0 mono track in Russian, everything sounds quite crisp and clear without issue.

Extras (5/5)

     This set is STACKED. A lot of it is ported over from the prior 1999 edition, including a commentary, documentaries, interviews, and BTS footage. But now we are treated to the extended version, the short film the Streamroller and the Violin, video essays, and more.

Overall

    I have wanted a Blu-ray of Andrei Rublev since Blu-ray began, and Criterion has exceeded my expectation in every single way. The Blu-ray looks and sounds stunning and is loade with extras. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED