1983
1984
1985
1986
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Andrei Tarkovsky's Martyrolog on...
The Sacrifice
From the Polish edition of Martyrolog, ed. and trans. by Seweryn Kuśmierczyk.
Retranslation by Jan at Nostalghia.com.
8 March, Tuesday, Via di Monserrato
I sent two proposals to
Stockholm: Hamlet and The Witch. (Anna-Lena Wibom has received
the letter.)
10 March, Thursday, Rome, Via di Monserrato
I reserved for five years
my rights to The Witch and Hamlet.
22 May, Via di Monserrato
[...] I signed a contract
for The Witch with Anna-Lena Wibom. [...]
(28 June, Thursday, San Gregorio)
7 August, San Gregorio
Yesterday I met with Giovanni Grazziani, the Director of the Centro sperimentale di cinematografia
di Roma. He gave me a letter with an invitation to lead a seminar on the subject
"What is Cinema?" in the academic year 1983–1984. I sent a copy to Moscow,
to Yermash. They phoned from America
where they are waiting for me at the Telluride Film Festival.
They said we should send two pairs of photos for the visas and let them know where
we would be arriving from.
At four-ten this morning Lara was awaken by the noise of a car passing by.
Ten minutes later she heard steps. Then for a long time someone was determinedly trying
to open our front door. The door opened and somebody went inside. Larissa walked
over to the window and saw no-one, no car either. One hour after her going back to bed someone
left our house. It was five-twenty in the morning. I rang Franco who had a talk
with Luigi Paini* and told him everything.
Franco talked to Nicolo**
who thinks there is no reason to worry. Perhaps we have a listening device installed:
inside the telephone or in some other place. I don't know. We are very worried...
18 August, San Gregorio
[...] Anna-Lena says, regarding
the new idea for The Sacrifice, that I should go to Stockholm. That's
too involved, I have to telephone her and take care of everything without
me being there. [...]
27 August, San Gregorio
[...] Here is the answer
from Goskino to Giovanni Grazziani's letter inviting me to lead the directors'
seminar at the Centro sperimentale di cinematografia in Rome.
|
Mr. Giovanni Grazziani
Chairman, Centro sperimentale
di cinematografia
Rome, Italy |
Dear Mr. Chairman,
Having read your letter dated 6 June of this year to Goskino USSR regarding
director A. Tarkovsky, I should like to inform you that the film studio
Mosfilm demand fulfilling an obligation A. Tarkovsky had earlier taken
upon himself when he signed a contract with the said studio to write the screenplay
for the film The Idiot.
It is our position in this regard that Tarkovsky should put his affairs
with the studio in order in Moscow. Besides, Higher School of Screenwriting
and Directing expects A. Tarkovsky to begin lectures on film directing
there.
These factors force us to ask you, Mr. Chairman, to put on hold your invitation
for director A. Tarkovsky to participate in the seminar at your Centre
until he clears his position regarding the issues mentioned above. I
hope this request will not cause any unnecessary complications in future
contacts between the USSR State Committee for Cinematography and your Centre. |
Moscow,
4 August 1983 |
Sincerely yours,
Pyotr Kostikov
Deputy Chairman
Goskino USSR
|
|
(20 November, Sunday, San Gregorio)
22 November, San Gregorio
[...]
The Sacrifice.
Think about the rhythm.
Do not allow the scenes already shot to mislead. Build the film's rhythm
in advance. It is rhythm that sets the dramaturgy in film, in contradistinction
to literature and drama.
23 November, San Gregorio
We stayed in England for
almost two months. The rehearsals took one month. My work with Claudio
Abbado went well and we parted as friends. The cast members were very good.
The characters of the drama fit the actors perfectly. The production manager
Jeff Phillips did a wonderful job. Stephen Lawless — the assistant
— and Irina Brown were very good. It was not so good with Dvigubsky. He
spent a lot of money quite unnecessarily but couldn't provide what was
most important. He had promised to polish up the production and all the
elements that still needed it and had been telling the theatre staff the
work was almost finished. [...] In London I became closely
acquainted with André Engel to whom I spoke rather coolly in Cannes.
It turns out he is a very nice man. When I asked him why he distributed
my films, as they were not very profitable, he responded that I was his
"holy cow." This was very nice. England is quiet, majestic,
and homely. We didn't feel like leaving at all. New acquaintances, friends,
new opportunities. [...] In London I saw Anna-Lena
who is very enthusiastic and although she has faith in Hamlet, she
proposes to start working on The Sacrifice. She said she would be
in Rome on the 28th. [...]
24 November, Thursday, San Gregorio
I began The Sacrifice
yesterday. I worked on it a bit but the result is rather mediocre. I'm
overexcited. Not much has cleared up. Eternal Return as the title?
I cannot at all find the story with the dwarf in
Thus Spake Zarathustra.
Found it. What is artistic creation?
Conviction. And if it is conviction it means it is accompanied by errors.
If errors then — does this indicate falseness? No, firstly, errors do not
always indicate falseness, and secondly, why avoid errors if art utilises
not truth, not essence, but an image of truth, an image of essence. [...]
5 December, San Gregorio
[...] Anna-Lena Wibom was
in Rome, we talked about directing. We agreed the screenplay would be ready
by the end of January and I'd begin shooting in June. I told her about
Sven Nykvist and Erland Josephson. [...]
9 December, San Gregorio
Larissa telephoned Moscow
yesterday and is very upset: Andryusha cries after every call. God, those
bastards! Franco told us yesterday
it might be worthwhile to speak with Berlinguer. The risk is small. After
all, regardless of the conflict between us and Moscow, they meet
all the time, they depend on each other so to speak. I'm tired. Difficult days!!! If Yermash does not show
up in the next few days with an offer to discuss things I shall have to
inform the embassy that I'm requesting political asylum, and prepare everything.
7 January, Tuesday, San Gregorio
The Sacrifice.
For the dream sequence (which
may be entirely rewritten). The last shot from a close-up of Alexander
bundled up in something (a coat?) to a long shot: the field, the grass,
an extraordinary pearly light. The far reaches of the horizon and the sky
dissolving into the mist. It turns out Alexander is on a cart on which
a woman is sitting (with her back turned) dressed in white and driving
him away toward the horizon. Crane. A long shot. Perhaps the only colour
shot in the film. First a close-up of Alexander then a pan across the ruins
where objects he knew have burnt, or their remnants to be exact, then the
cart, etc. The sound of a motorcycle
passing nearby (the family is sitting at the table).
11 January, San Gregorio
[...] Tyapus has sent a
moving letter — a drawing of the Brancaccio castle, very much like the
real thing. About Andryushka I am afraid not only to write but even to
think. Rosi telephoned yesterday,
he wants to see me. I gave him my phone number. He promised to call. The
work on the screenplay is advancing very slowly and with great difficulty.
[...]
13 January, San Gregorio
Anna-Lena is flying in on
the 21st. She said Gromyko was arriving in Stockholm and the
Swedish premier would present him a note regarding myself and my work.
24 January, San Gregorio
Anna-Lena was here on the
21st. We agreed I would be still writing the screenplay in February.
In order to be able to start shooting on the 1st of August.
[...]
10 February, San Gregorio
Lara has just telephoned
from Amsterdam. Andropov is dead. Should we prepare new letters?
14 February, San Gregorio
Chernenko became the new
General Secretary. Naturally he will now also become the Chairman of the
Supreme Soviet. That's how it is with us — a tsar is a tsar. I spoke to
Lara. She is very nervous. She had a conversation with some Amsterdam activist
who hinted it would not be so easy and so fast to get Tyapa and Anna Semyonovna
out. What to do now? Write another
letter to Chernenko? Lara sent letters to the Red Cross and some other
place. [...]
22 February, San Gregorio
I sent the letter to Chernenko
and the screenplay to Anna-Lena in Stockholm. [...]
9 April, San Gregorio
[...] Anna-Lena arrived
with Katinka Faragó, the producer, and we talked about the future
film. It seems RAI will participate in the production. For now we have
Swedish Film Institute and an English company, the one that produced Gandhi.
That's not enough, Anna-Lena thinks we'll have to raise two and a half
million dollars. Franco takes care of the
production i.e., editing, sound (English, Italian, French versions), recording
sound effects, editing [sic], music, etc. He is very happy. There are some
problems with Sven Nykvist who, if I understood correctly, wants to arrive
only when the shooting begins. This does not suit me too well. I'm used
to beginning the work with the cameraman early on. The distributors from
the FRG want to talk to Anna-Lena about participating in the production
of
The Sacrifice and Hoffmanniana. [...]
Tamara Ogorodnikova and
Demidova are planning to visit Italy. (Although not together, I think.)
They want to visit us. How courageous they are, really! Andryushka is already quite
distressed, like us, perhaps even more. How is this going to end? God,
help us!
18 April, San Gregorio
The contract is being talked
over with Anna-Lena. I asked for 300 thousand dollars. Anna-Lena told her
attorney it was too much. Of course this is a lot. Perhaps I'll have to
give in a bit. Andrea Crisanti went to
South America to do location search for Rosi. Sergio sent a special letter
to Andreotti describing the whole situation. Andreotti is planning to go
to Moscow. Volodya Maximov was planning
to deliver the money for Anna Semyonovna through Bulat Okudzhava whom they
helped here many times in the past. Okudzhava answered our family did not
need anything. That's a good one! I hope all formalities regarding
the soggiorno and travel documents will be finished after Easter.
If Andreotti's trip to Moscow fails I shall have to notify the ambassador
(give him two weeks) and ask Americans for political asylum (get in contact
with Maximov and Rostropovich). Olga Surkova is staying
with us now. She is working on the book or rather attempting to. She cannot
even use a typewriter. Olga is behaving very strangely. She is starting
to talk about money (!). She's gone completely crazy. How about just thanking
her for her efforts some time soon?
28 April, San Gregorio
Anna-Lena has disappeared.
Later Franco said Cao got in contact with Anna-Lena and she apparently
says she has to go to Cannes to secure the money as Gaumont backed out
claiming The Sacrifice was a non-commercial film. Later Larissa
spoke to Anna-Lena on the phone and found out there was no reason to panic.
Everything will clear up if not today then tomorrow although Gaumont did
indeed back out.
30 May, San Gregorio
Haven't written anything
in the diary for a while, probably because nothing happened to make me
happy. And I don't feel like writing about unpleasant moments, it only
makes me live through them again. I went to Stockholm. I believe
the business with the film is taken care of. We'll begin shooting in one
year, in the spring, we have the money. Anna-Lena went to Cannes, she spoke
to the Russian officials, with some new Nikonenko. She talked about me
probably. From their side it's always
the same song: I have to return to Moscow and clear up all my affairs there. I sent two letters. First
to the ambassador in Stockholm, second to the ambassador in Paris. Their
delivery was volunteered by: in Paris — the French minister of culture,
in Stockholm — the Swedish minister of culture. I'm still not certain if
Anna-Lena was able to organise the delivery. Anna-Lena promised to phone
and find out about Nykvist: will he be our cameraman? That depends on him
obtaining funds for his own film project. She hasn't called yet, we cannot
reach her by phone either. Again some problems with
our house, now we don't know whether it will be possible to realise our
design. Lara and I must decide to take the last step!!! Slava Rostropovich
thinks we'll make the right decision. In Moscow in the meantime — reactionaries
in "full bloom." Chernenko is ill, he makes no decisions. Everything is
passing through the hands of the Stalinists Ustinov and Gromyko. An awful
situation in Afghanistan. Sakharov is in a tragic situation. Solzhenitsyn
wrote a huge article on Rublov in his journal
"Vestnik."* Why at
this moment? Just now, when I am in such a difficult position? The Vladimovs
sent me the text. They want to respond. We shall see. I have to read
it first. There are problems with
the soggiorno and the travel visa. This is an unhappy period. Olga Surkova is in Moscow.
Tamara Ogorodnikova was in Rome during my absence. She met with Lara. She
believes we should come back. Larissa explained to her our situation step
by step.
May 31, San Gregorio
I reached Anna-Lena
by phone. She said everything was fine. Sven will work with us. She is
now negotiating with the French regarding the delivery of my letters. (The
Swedes and their ministry will do it at the same time.)
6 June, San Gregorio
One more unpleasant incident
at this time: the architect who has antique buildings in Italy under his
care did not approve our design. We'll have to look for ways to get around
his decision. God, how complicated everything here is!
16 June, San Gregorio
Volodya Maximov came here
again. We decided to prepare the press conference for 10 July. Slava Rostropovich
and others will be there. We ought to persuade Fellini and Rosi (I doubt
it). Zhora Vladimov is preparing
two articles about me and Rublov. The debate with Solzhenitsyn.
I never expected Solzhenitsyn would turn out such a silly, malicious, jealous,
and above all unreliable man. I think I was finally able
to settle the contract with Anna-Lena: 20,000 + 15,000 per day in Sweden.
3 months preparation, 5 months shooting. Total 8 months. 36 million + 5
(music) + 15 (editing). One has to deduct the taxes and 6 percent for Cao. Paolo has promised to help
us with the design of the house. And there is also a certain Don Sergio
(from Mrs. Alberti) who told us he would come to see us, take a look, and
later help.
3 July, San Gregorio
We are in terrible times
now. There is the press conference in Milan on the 10th during
which we'll make the announcement that we request political asylum in the
USA. For now we don't know how Americans will react to my not being able
to live in America since, I think, I'll be working more often in Europe.
Problems with Anna-Lena's contract. I shall probably have to pay huge taxes
even as a foreigner. Cao is looking for a solution. Carlo Baumgartner telephoned
from Frankfurt, he liked very much the screenplays he had been translating:
Hoffmanniana
and Light Wind. He wants to talk to German TV. He has read the very
weak and primitive article about Rublov by Solzhenitsyn. I am really
worried Olga may get into big trouble as soon as our press conference
is over.
4 July, San Gregorio
Lara is very nervous although
she tries not to give a sign of anything. She doesn't sleep at night. Watching
this is very painful. Somehow I am not well adapted to this kind of life:
for me it is full of pain. If that was the only thing: my dear ones who
love me and whom I love, they are also suffering. It's as if the bonds
between them and me were forcing them to suffer. What misery the awareness
of this is! Irina Alberti rang telling
us everything was going well with the Americans. They agree to propose
several possible ways to bend the rules. The press conference in Milan
is scheduled for the 10th, at the Circolazione della Stampa. I have to find out from
Volodya Maximov who will be at that conference.
8 August, San Gregorio
Somehow I had no energy
and no inclination to write. And how much has happened since! We celebrated
Andryusha's birthday yesterday. We had guests. We talked with Moscow, calming
them down as much as we could, kindling their hopes for quick arrival.
I feel such a burden upon my soul I sometimes literally don't know what
to do with myself. On the 10th Movimento
Popolare and Liberal Party organised the press conference in Milan for me
and Lara. The organiser was Roberto Formigoni, a monk and — as it turned
out — a nice man. Among those at the conference: Slava Rostropovich, Volodya
Maximov, Irina Alberti, Yura Lubimov. Yura was stripped of his Russian
citizenship. For the next two days newspapers in Europe, and in America
to an extent, were writing about our difficulties and about the press conference.
Lara and I are extremely tired. I agreed with Repetti to
change the publisher of the book. Then we went back to San Gregorio and
on the 18th, I think, we left for London. There were two meetings:
at St. James' Church and at the Riverside Studios. It was a great success.
Particularly important for me was the talk at the cathedral devoted to
the problem of the Apocalypse. We stayed with Tim and Ira Brown. We visited
many people. A Committee was created to fight for our family rights. Marina Vaykhovskaya is very
active, she was herself in a similar, even more complicated situation with
her son. She is a psychiatrist from Leningrad — refused to "treat" dissidents. Franco Terilli said some
Italian newspapers had stressed our main reason to refuse to return to
USSR had been the desire to earn some money. Idiots! How simple everything
is for them! Now, in August, I absolutely
have to sign the contract with Anna-Lena, go to Washington for a few days
to take care of the documents, then return the passports to the Soviet
consulate. I met the American ambassador to Italy. An odd impression, there
is something of a Soviet man in him. But he was very pleasant. We also have to submit a
petition, through Italian Foreign Ministry — per our place of residence
— demanding letting out Andryushka and Anna Semyonovna. The response is
expected after 21 days. Then, if the answer is in the negative or if we
obtain no answer at all, we'll have to act through Marina Vaykhovskaya
and the London Committee. It would also be important to set something up
in America, Italy, France, and Germany. Problems with the design
of our house. Meli does not want to sign it for anything. "Sindaco" and
Don Sergio promised to help and fight to resolve the matter. Krzysztof Zanussi telephoned,
sent us greetings from Wajda.
9 August, San Gregorio
It looks like we can't send
official invitation to Moscow during holidays which end around the 16th.
The attorney [female] is waiting to see me tomorrow. Anna-Lena has sent the contract
and something is wrong with it again. She is haggling like a Gypsy, bordering
on impropriety, and annoys me to no end.
3 September, Stockholm
I arrived in Stockholm on
the 1st. The attorney and Anna-Lena have apparently come to
an understanding. Only the daily rate has not yet been decided upon (50
or 70 dollars). Christiana has arrived in
San Gregorio, I met her husband Mario. They own a flat in Rome, at a good
spot, but for the last four-five years some friends of theirs have been
living there. Christiana promised to think how to evict them as they don't
even want to hear about leaving. If she manages that, they would let us
use the flat and we could (if we liked it) purchase it from Mario and Christiana.
We decided to sell the house in San Gregorio and buy a flat in Rome. One
has to begin in Rome. When Andryusha arrives he will have to go to school,
i.e. to live, in Rome. A country home is second priority. One can find
a better place, by the sea, with a house we could move in right away. The Italian foreign minister's
letter hasn't been sent yet. They are still deciding how best to formulate
it. Due to my work starting I must postpone until mid-October the trip
to America for the documents. The French sent a letter
informing about their desire to publish Sculpting in Time. Lara is staying in Italy
for the time being, to send the invitation for Tyapa to Moscow and, perhaps,
also an official invitation through the consulate. Then we shall have to
clear and pack all our belongings to vacate the rooms in San Gregorio and
stop paying 250 thousand lira per month. In winter we are going to Berlin,
to the Academy. But Andryushka and Anna Semyonovna come first. And the
film, naturally. I met with Sven Nykvist
yesterday and today. A very good effective conversation about the film.
I've been ill for three days now but today I'm beginning to get over this
cold or 'flu. The day after tomorrow we are leaving for Gotland to select
the locations. The photographs are very good, Sven will like them. From
what I hear the main set — Alexander's house plus the surroundings — is
ready.
9 September, Stockholm
I've been in Stockholm
for several days now. The contract hasn't been signed yet, Anna-Lena has
no inclination to pay higher rate than 50 dollars per day. I think I shall
have to accept it. Sven Nykvist made a very
nice impression on me. We've visited Gotland already and viewed the previously
selected location with enthusiasm. The only problem is opposition from
ornitologists who are afraid we'll chase the birds away. I haven't decided yet how
and where to shoot the dream sequences. I only know I don't want to shoot
any crowds. We haven't found Maria's home yet. I'm looking for a wooden
unpainted house, a backyard with an abandoned agricultural machine overgrown
with nettle in the middle, and towering above it all a blossoming bird's
cherry tree. We have to find a house like this near Stockholm. I was at Anna-Lena's summer
home today. A gorgeous place and a humble wooden house. A surprisingly
beautiful spot, near the bay. Silence and there is almost no-one around.
An hour's drive from the city.
13 September, Stockholm
I've been trying to send
money to Moscow all this time. Watched The Mirror
with Nykvist. A horrible print! Simply unbelievably hideous. I felt really
ashamed. The actress who will play
Maria has flown in from Iceland. A very good face. Freckled and with good
eyes. Every day I write letters
to Tyapa and Ola. For four days straight I've been sending them postcards
with views of Stockholm and Sweden. I thought of a solution
to the fire scene so that all characters could be included in a single
take. I talked to Lara over telephone.
Franco told me she was feeling very bad, completely lost her humour, and
had been only drinking water for four days. She wants to slim and look better.
She is suffering from insomnia.
15 September, Stockholm
I saw Bergman for the first
time in person today. He had a meeting with young people at the Filminstitutet
where he was presenting the documentary about the making of Fanny and
Alexander, and providing a running commentary. Then he answered questions.
He made an odd impression on me. Self-centred, cold, superficial, both
toward the children and the audience.
19 September, Stockholm
Went to Gotland with Sven
Nykvist. He made several tests to check the lab work. Before departure
we watched Nostalghia. The cameraman's work impressed Nykvist deeply.
It's true, Beppe Lanci did a magnificent job on this film. The Swedish
print was better than the one in Cannes, and that was our answer print! Nature on Gotland is magnificent.
Only the weather was not right: wind all the time and a romantic sky covered
with clouds. On Monday in a dream I heard
a voice as if Lara's: "We have not enough time, Andrei!" Very strange.
I contacted Jill Clayburgh regarding the role of Adelaide.
21 September, Stockholm
We had supper with Katinka.
It was very pleasant. I got the impression Sven was very lonely, he is
still deeply influenced, I think, by that horrible tragedy when his sixteen-year
old son cut his wrists and died. Sven is very lonely, he has no friends.
I would love to have a friend like him.
22 September, Stockholm
Yesterday Anna-Lena informed
me that the Japanese will not be participating in the production. Supposedly
they got scared of my staying in the West and their company is doing some
business with Soviet Union. Just what we needed! I asked Anna-Lena: "So are
we going to do this film or not?" She answered: "Of course." I wonder if
that story with the Japanese is true or perhaps she is stalling on purpose,
having something else on her mind...
6 October, Stockholm
Nostalghia is not
being shown in Stockholm yet. For the time being the distributor hasn't
found a good cinema for the opening and the shows. In France Nostalghia
is not being shown (to this day!) because Gaumont did not fulfil their
obligation toward RAI. Perhaps I'll be able to supplement my earnings at
the Boris Godunov rehearsals in London. Early next week there will
be an answer when and for how long I should go there (if they are interested)
and information concerning the expenses. For now we don't know about
Gotland, whether they will allow us to work there. It all began with birds
— there is a bird sanctuary there. If they won't allow it we shall have
to start the search anew. But I doubt we'll be able to find anything better
than this sanctuary. The actress who was to play Julia is pregnant. She
is having her baby in May. The money for Moscow has
not been sent yet. Through Anna-Lena's friends it would be too expensive
and it would be delivered only after three weeks. 10,000 roubles will cost
4½ thousand dollars. Very expensive. Andryusha Yablonsky promised
to get it done within a week (?) and much cheaper. That would be much better,
of course, even if it meant paying 3330 dollars for 10,000 roubles. Sven Nykvist and Anna-Lena
are going tonight to a supper with the director of Centre National du Cinema
in Paris, Pierre Viot. The supper is at the residence of the French cultural
attaché. They want to discuss the possibility of France's participation
in production of the film. The Japanese have pulled out for good. This
Frenchman is an aid to the French minister of culture. It is possible we
shall have to take a French actor. He also wants to talk about our future
and about the citizenship problem. I got the impression the
Russians are afraid of my new film. Aksyonov, the director of "Lenfilm"
who was in Stockholm, was inquiring of Anna-Lena about it. I was thinking
of sending a request to Soviet Union through the Soviet ambassador for
Oleg Yankovsky's participation in the film, and in this fashion — if they
were willing to discuss this possibility — let them have the screenplay
in English. Obviously they won't give us Yankovsky, but then who knows?
I'm thinking of casting Roger Rees as the doctor. I have to urgently see an
international law expert regarding Andryusha.
7 October, Stockholm
We went with Anna-Lena to
the supper at the French embassy cultural attaché's, also present
was the director of Centre National du Cinema in France — a government
organisation which finances both French films and foreign coproductions.
They want to participate in the production of The Sacrifice. The
cultural attaché has informed me officially that the French government
is ready to help me and my family. Anna-Lena is flying out
to Paris today to sign appropriate documents with the French. Before leaving
she mentioned a disgusting newspaper article informing the public it was
I who personally set the cow on fire in Rublov and therefore I can
be expected to be up to no good if I'm allowed to work in the bird sanctuary.
We have to prepare an urgent denial. Nevertheless Moscow's hand is plainly
visible here. Very plainly. Even here they won't leave me in peace.
12 October, Stockholm
I'm flying to London tomorrow.
Selecting actors and the Boris rehearsals. John Tooley is proposing
1000 pounds, i.e. 2300 dollars, 4 million lira. I would like to increase
the amount as it seems insufficient. Larissa said Italian government
had received the answer from Moscow which said we were Soviet citizens
and our family problems were "internal affairs of the Soviet state." And
thus our personal problems have become matters of state. The Italian ambassador
in Moscow was informed that the children and Anna Semyonovna did not want
to travel anywhere because no forms had been filed regarding uniting the family
and travel. Andreotti is supposedly presenting this problem at the Italian
parliament.
24 October
|
24 October
1984
To Andrei Andreievich Tarkovsky |
My dear boy!
It's late autumn here as well and it rains all the time. In London where I staged
Boris Godunov and looked for actors for my new film it was much
warmer. I hear Bondarchuk is making
a film in Moscow based on Pushkin's Boris Godunov. It will probably be
a very amusing film.
What's new with you, my dear? Were you able to find the books I was telling you about?
How is Grandma? What's with
Dakus? I'm afraid he'll start gaining weight again
if he is not walked enough. And he shouldn't be overfed. A shepherd should be
fed only once a day, in the evening. That's enough. How did you celebrate your
common birthdays? After all, Dakus knows you both celebrate this
holiday.
Any news about our country home? Has Olga managed to strengthen the foundations?
It would be a good thing if she did that. Write me in your next letter, son,
how you all live, what you do, whom you meet. About all new things in general,
the ones I don't know about yet.
Have you seen Sergei Paradzhanov's film yet? If not, see it at the earliest
opportunity.
Andrei Konchalovsky's film is in cinemas now (in Italy, not in Sweden). I haven't
seen it yet but people who saw it say it's an ordinary American film. I am sorry
for Konchalovsky. Hollywood would devour anyone. This is a commercial production
and no-one who wants to remain an artist should have anything to do with
Hollywood, should not change himself.
It is said Otar Ioseliani has made a good film in Paris. I haven't seen it yet
but I'm definitely going to see it.
My hugs to you, my dear, and best wishes for everyone. Kiss Grandma and Olga.
And Dakus of course. |
|
Your
Dad Andrei |
|
26 October, Stockholm
I was in London. I haven't
found any actors among those presented by the producers although there
were lots of them. I couldn't meet with them because I had to go back for
the press conference on 23 October. Anna-Lena changed it without telling
me anything. I came back and so the money to pay for the trip was
practically thrown down the drain. Just two more days and I would have
finished everything. I didn't expect this sort of thing from Anna-Lena! Still no documents relating
to the contract. Franco said they would arrive any day now. Lara is very
busy concerning Andryushka. Andrei Yablonsky and his wife are helping her.
The Milan press conference has been moved to 23 November. Movimento Popolare
is helping Larissa organise it. Larissa says Andryusha Yablonsky assured
her our family would be let out before the New Year. The actors at the Film Institute
here are very good and the people are very friendly and nice. Without delay
I have to send the request for Yankovsky to the ambassador. So they know
at least what I'm up to. Of course they won't give us Yankovsky but they
will be very surprised.
Stockholm, 26 October 1984
|
To Andrei Andreievich Tarkovsky |
My Beloved Tyapa!
I'm sending you one more photo. This is also
England, the home of Tim Brown.
His mother lives here. She is ill and she lives in the
country.
A writer also lives there, Nobel Prize laureate — William Golding.
There is a Russian translation of his book Lord of the Flies.
Read it, it's very interesting.
Son, give my regards to everyone and do not forget to write, all right? Kiss Grandma,
Ola, Tosya, and Dakus.
Your Dad A. who loves you all very much, who misses you, and lovingly thinks about
you all the time. Don't lose your spirits, everything will be fine! |
|
28 October
|
Stockholm, 28 October
1984
To Andrei Andreievich Tarkovsky |
My beloved boy,
I'm sending you one more photograph.
How are you doing, my dear? Are you in good health?
So far no changes with me here: I'm working, searching for the actors. I should have
the entire cast before the 15th of November.
Nothing new happened here. We keep in touch with Mum by telephone. I hope we shall meet
very soon.
Have you been reading much? I have just seen Gleb Panfilov's Vassa on TV.
Have you seen this film? I was struck by the weak acting. All of them — no
exception — are fake and unnatural! I felt almost confused — I always
thought Gleb Panfilov was able to explain to actors what to do and how to do
it.
I would love you to watch Paradzhanov's film and to write me about it. All right?
Promise?
Be courageous, son. I love you very much, many hugs. Please — do not
get sick.
Kiss Grandma and Ola. And Dakus. How is he? Write me about it as well. |
|
Dad
A. |
|
29 October, Stockholm
A happy soul, as opposed
to a leaden and gloomy soul, is already halfway toward salvation.
30 October, Stockholm
I bought at an auction a
shawl for Lara. Very old and beautiful. Anna-Lena made an appointment
for tomorrow at the Swedish foreign ministry regarding our family. I asked
Anna-Lena (after a conversation with Rome) to phone the attorney. She did
not. She is playing a double game of some sort. The contract which she
promised immediately to forward for the director's signature has arrived
but I'm sure it hasn't been signed. I intend to have a serious
talk with her and the director. This is all so unreliable. I've been waiting
for a year, have been working for two months, and still without a contract.
This cannot continue.
31 October, Stockholm
Anna-Lena told Cao today
we'd find out about the Japanese today or tomorrow, they should give a
definite answer. Then the agreement will be signed. And if not? If the
Japanese refuse? Too frightful to contemplate. I went to the Swedish foreign
ministry today. They want to help us as well and to present a declaration
in Moscow concerning my family.
6 November, Stockholm
I asked Anna-Lena directly
about the contract yesterday. She said due to the resignation of the Japanese
company (they conduct some business with the USSR and are afraid to work
with me after our decision to stay in the West), and Gaumont (it appears
they have gone completely bankrupt) the position of the film is very difficult.
I'm going to the Institute's director to talk about this. I spoke to Lara. We have
to put some pressure on the director of Channel Four in England (his wife
is a member of the Committee for reunion of the Tarkovsky family). Perhaps
he'd give more money. Apart from that, after the director of Centre National
du Cinema in Paris has been dismissed there is no hope for their participation
in the production. Despite all this Lara has found an access there as well.
We have to contact the French culture minister who may resurrect the idea
with the new director. Half a million dollars is missing. Anna-Lena went
to London, then she is flying to Paris and Rome.
|
Stockholm,
6 November 1984
To Andrei Andreievich Tarkovsky |
My beloved boy!
I'm sending you one more photo. We are location scouting with the cameraman
Sven Nykvist. Now he is in Canada, he is making some American film there.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. I saw Andrei Konchalovsky's Maria's Lovers.
I have no words to describe how bad it is. Konchalovsky has transplanted onto American life Platonov's story
River
Potudan which is a work of genius. In Konchalovsky's version the story
has lost all of its poetry, force, and charm. A very, very weak film. Sasha
Sokurov made a deeply affecting
picture
based on the story.
See it whenever you have an opportunity. And as for the story itself —
read it and ask Ola or Seryozha for any explanations.
Andrei Konchalovsky is consistent. He always wanted to be liked by everybody.
First by snobs — and he made A Nest of Gentlefolk. Then by so-called
young people — he made A Lovers' Romance (not only for young people,
also for the authorities), and finally, while still in Moscow, he made
Siberiad
through which he really wanted to win favours with the authorities. Now
he wants to win favours with Americans and he made
Maria's Lovers.
I pity him very very much.
You know, son, when I heard your voice on the phone yesterday at last I
understood how much you've grown.
Give my love to everyone! Everyone! Especially for Seryozha, Alosha, Volodya
(both of them), Sasha Sokurov, Yura, Seryozha Paradzhanov, Araik, Dakus.
Many kisses to you |
|
Your
Dad A. |
|
8 November, Stockholm
I'm off to notarise the
signature on the invitation for our family to
come to Sweden, as agreed
with the Swedish foreign minister. Naturally this won't be a legal document
for the Russians but it's important for the Ministry to have such document
in order for them to legally, on a government level, request the release
of our family. (If the answer to my request is negative.) I phoned Lara who is now
being very active there. She telephoned London and prepared Anna-Lena's
appearance on TV. And I had a conversation with the director of Channel
Four. Lara has also spoken to Andi Engel in London and contacted the foreign
minister in Paris who promised his help in financing the film. There are
results already. Channel Four are giving not 2 million but 2.9 million krona,
that means 1 million more than previously set up. Anna-Lena rang this morning
and told us the French negotiations turned out very well. Also the minister
of culture wants to meet me in order to help with reuniting the family. Oh yes, before all those
panicky phone conversations I went to see Olofsson (the director of the
Film Institute) and seriously talked to him about our problems and the
lack of contract. Incidentally — I got the impression Anna-Lena did not
perform her duties well and did not keep the director up-to-date. David Gothard has helped
us in London a lot. I have to go to Paris. The culture minister wants to
see me: this is an absolute necessity because of the film and the family
matters. So: on the 14th — testing the children, on the 16th
— pack the suitcases and fly to Paris, from there to Milan (on the 22nd)
where I have a meeting with journalists on the 23rd. I'll be
meeting Lara only then. We shall return to Rome together to wait for the
TV programme about Nostalghia, then — to Berlin where — perhaps
— I'll make a short film about Rudolf Steiner with Alexander Kluge and
write the shooting script for Hoffmanniana. We shall also begin
the search for funding Hamlet. I have to write the screenplay and
find some time for America. I need the documents! And perhaps make a film
about St. Anthony? Before I begin collecting materials and work on the
screenplay I have to sign the contract. Then, assuming everything goes
well with The Sacrifice, I'll be in Stockholm from March to July.
In August — Rome again. (By that time the problem with the house will have
to be resolved.) Before the end of 1985 — editing and finishing the film.
February — March 1986 (one month, if I feel like it) — The Flying Dutchman
in London. Beginning January 1986 shoot Hoffmanniana with the Germans. I had a very sad dream today.
Again I saw a lake somewhere in northern Russia, the sun rising over the
far shore, two Russian Orthodox monasteries with churches and frescos of
rare beauty. I felt so sad! Such pain!
Stockholm, 8
November 1984
To Andrei Andreievich Tarkovsky |
My beloved Son!
Here is one more photo for you. Location scouting once again. From the
left: Kaj – the administrator; Anna Asp (Asp means "aspen" in Swedish)
– the production designer; Sven Nykvist. As you can see we are all feeling
a bit depressed as the place we were looking at turned out not to be very
interesting.
I'm working until the 15th.
The first stage of the preparations is ending soon, it took two and a half
months. Then I'm returning for a short while to Italy to take care of certain
important matters with Mum.
How are Grandma and Olga? Write me about it because they always hide their
health problems from me and then I begin to worry even more and imagine
who knows what.
Write as often as you can and let me know what is happening. What do you
read, what do you think of it? Do you like what you read? Why do you like
or do not like it? For me this is all very interesting and important.
What's most important is that you should not be afraid to express your
thoughts. Then they become more precise and clear-cut.
Ask the translator of my screenplay to tell all of you about it in detail.
But you have certainly done so already.
How is Dakus? I beg you, do not let him turn into a fat sausage!
Give my regards to everyone. Zhenya and Svetlana, Masha and Volodya, Araik
and Seryozha Paradzhanov. I don't need to mention Tosya, Alosha and Seryozha.
First of all kiss Grandma from me. |
Many
kisses. Your Dad A. |
|
10 November, Stockholm
Anna-Lena phoned from Paris
yesterday. She said everything was in order. She is now going to let Olofsson
know that the contract can be signed. I hope this means first priority
is signing the contract with me. I am falling behind with
my work on the book for Christiana Bertoncini. Olga Surkova has just put it
together in a slapdash manner. She simply transcribed the work material
recorded on tape. A pure pot-boiler. It became obvious to me that in Moscow
her father must have been writing everything for her, there is no other
explanation. All letters have been prepared:
to Thatcher, to Reagan, to Schultz, and to Mitterand. Italian government
is waiting for an answer to the official request submitted to Soviet government.
If there is no answer or there is denial, all the Committees will begin
their activities together. Jure Lina promised to organise Committees in
Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Jure Lina telephoned (it
is midnight already). He said he was beginning to act now. And he has the
Committee almost organised. He's got thousands of ideas and is coming to
see me tomorrow together with a very important woman, very experienced
in these matters. He is so active and so enthusiastic about the Committee
idea that I think his Committee will be the best in the world and he its
most active member.
8 January, Berlin
I haven't been writing God
knows for how long. So much has happened since. I went back to Italy, straight
to Milan. I saw Lara there. [...] Next
— Florence. There was
an audience meeting there (Movimento Popolare again). An incredibly beautiful
room. There was an enormous mass of people, very enthusiastic and sympathetic.
The meeting was a huge success. Toward the end the audience members asked questions. One
of them (from a very nice young man) concerned my thoughts on the
Italian concepts of socialism (opposing the Soviet ones). I answered that I
agreed completely with the government of the USSR which maintained there could
exist no other socialism or communism. I spent
several magnificent
days in Florence with Lara. We went to the Uffizi Gallery at the time no
public was there. The Adoration of the Kings is overwhelming. [...] We went to Ansedonia. Larissa
showed me Roccalbegna, an astonishingly beautiful place, where we could
buy a house (more like ruins, one could construct a new house) and the
land — 12 hectares. For 23 million lira. I think we should absolutely do
it. [...] Lara and I are in Berlin
now on an invitation from the Art Academy. Yakovlev has already made telephone
calls to Gambarov (Sovexportfilm) and to the KGB, obviously, and said he
"saw me." [...]
11 January, Berlin
[...] Regarding Kluge, I'm
curious whether we'll be able to do something for television within our
time frame here. Carlo mentioned TV expressed interest in Hoffmanniana,
but it has to be decided without delay whether I should do Hoffmanniana
immediately following The Sacrifice. I should agree to do it and
start looking for the money. Volodya Maximov contacted
us with (so far by telephone only — tomorrow we are going to her for dinner)
Irina Pabst — a very influential Russian friend of Springer's. She
had already helped us resolve the conflict with Ullstein publishers over
the losses related to publishing the book. [...]
18 January, Berlin
Already for two days I had
terrible dreams again. The lake with the monastery again, Sizov who signed
my leave application. Russia, Orthodox churches, Kostin... But the details
don't matter — everything is ambiguous in general.
23 January, Berlin
Carlo came from Frankfurt
to see me yesterday. They want to know my conditions regarding the money
for the screenplay and for directing in order to decide if they can go
ahead with the film. I have to work some more on the screenplay to estimate
the cost of Hoffmanniana. We discussed the translator. I haven't
enough time. On the 2nd I'm going to Stockholm, then to Paris
to finish discussions with the French actress who plays Julia. A few days ago Anna-Lena
telephoned and said she was going to Japan regarding the Sacrifice
funding. I don't understand this at all, everything was agreed upon. Is
it possible they are still unable to find the money?
28/29 January, night, Berlin
In Moscow it turned out
the recommendation for Andryusha was unnecessary because he ought to apply
for permanent stay and Anna Semyonovna only for half a year. Olga does
not qualify. We want to arrange a fictitious marriage for her. It would
be better for her to finish university in Moscow. At any rate, we decided
not to include her on the application for permit to leave.
|
|
|
Maximilian Schell
Suzdal in 1912 *
|
* Photo:
Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky
|
|
Ola and Andryusha are in
Suzdal now, visiting Maximilian
Schell. I'm so happy they can be with him. They are delighted. I'm
very indebted to him for his kindness. After all, my "friends" are so scared
they not only avoid telephone calls to our home, they even pretend not
to notice our children's greetings. They cross the street if they meet them
by chance. Max even found out how to
make phone calls from Suzdal to Berlin and we could talk to Ola and Andryusha. I asked Andryusha to talk
to Maximilian and tell him all about our problems with the passport office.
I'm going there tomorrow to file the application. If this works out then
Dakus will be brought here by Maximilian, he suggested it himself.
1 February, Berlin
The whole thing, of course,
didn't work out. They did not accept the documents at the office. The invitation
wasn't formulated properly. A new one has to be sent: 1. addressed to Director,
not to the Office; 2. if it is for permanent
stay, a proof of my right to live in Italy ought to be attached; 3. it has to be certified
by the Soviet Consul.
27 February, Berlin
[...] Saw Carlo Baumgartner
— we prepared an estimate (they are paying 10,000 marks for it). Carlo
says the attorney asked for too much money. 150,000 dollars for the screenplay
[Hoffmanniana]; 350,000 dollars for directing, plus daily wages,
telephone, flat, heating, etc.
8 March, Stockholm
[...] For the time being
we have no performer for the little boy (in The Sacrifice). Or rather
— not yet. I'm really worried.
12 March, Stockholm
Larissa telephoned from
Berlin yesterday and said Chernenko was dead. His place was taken by Gorbachov.
If Gorbachov — it means for a long time, and if he's got some scoundrelly
plans — we are done for!
27 March, Stockholm
[...] We visited Iceland
with Lara. I left early, Larissa is staying a bit longer. Swedes are beautiful — and
dumb.
6 May, Gotland
Today is the first shooting
day, here on Gotland. Instead of filming two scenes as planned we did two
takes, not the night ones as we wanted but the morning ones. Had we departed
quarter after three rather than quarter after five everything would have
turned out differently. Katinka Faragó was right from the start
in her insistence on a morning departure. And I changed it: it had been
cloudy the day before. Although the mercury had been rising steadily. But
I had no faith in barometer. The Swedes are passive,
lazy, not interested in anything. They are sticklers for formalities: one
ought to work 8 hours a day and not one minute longer. On location! Certainly
it must be the only country in the world where working in film is treated
like office work, according to clock and it does not occur to them that
film is created. Where there is creation there is no room for rules
and regulations, and vice-versa! They work badly, really badly. Lara often feels ill (she
is in Berlin) and I am really worried about her. As for Andryusha, Springer
has raised our hopes — he attaches great importance to Reagan's meeting
with Gorbachov this August. So do the Icelanders and their Committee. Each
sent a letter to Gorbachov and they prevailed upon the Soviet ambassador
to obtain a response from Gorbachov as soon as possible. The ambassador
first promised an answer within two weeks, then after the May holidays.
We are expecting it any day now. Because of the upcoming
elections in Italy Formigoni is quibbling over our citizenship and the
documents. To this day we haven't received the documents Italians have
promised us. There is panic in Rome:
they are afraid Communists will be in power. This would mean troubles ahead
for Larissa and me. Lara is treated by a Chinese
doctor, has made dentist appointments, and is learning English — well done!
I am really concerned about her health. She worries herself sick — over
our situation and Andryusha. News from Sasha Sokurov:
he says when I talk about him here in the West he feels relieved. They
do not harass him as much. Still the film is shelved — as "ellitist." Oh
God! Rumours are floating Yermash
filed a memo which stated we had no need for any auteur films, only "for
the masses." And afterwards, so they say, somebody from the Central Committee
[of the Communist Party], from the culture department, wrote just the opposite
memo: that we needed not only films for the masses but auteur films as
well. And that it was wrong our misguided policy resulted in losing good
directors. I don't know how much truth is in it. Sven Nykvist and I do not
understand one another at all yet. This is an exceptionally important matter.
He is already beginning to understand what I want, however. How crazy this life is:
me — here, Lara — in Berlin. She must come here and be with me. I feel
bad without her.
|
|
|
|
|
28 July, Stockholm, Sibyllegatan 77
I haven't written anything
all this time. I haven't even brought this diary with me for my second
Gotland trip. I was terribly busy but — above all — it was impossible to
tear away from the film. Never before has the work on a film been so difficult
as it is now with The Sacrifice. First of all it was difficult
with Sven Nykvist. He is not as young and as absorbing of new ideas as
for example Sasha Kniazhinsky or Beppe Lanci are. Before he understood
what it was about half of the film was gone. And before I caught on to
what was going on and began to compose framing and camera movements, etc.,
myself, which by the way I had done on all my earlier films, again some
time was lost. Many (almost all) takes from the first trip to Gotland did
not come out and I was forced to reject them. Nevertheless entire material
was shot on time (55 days). We also reshot the fire
scene which did not work out first time around. Firstly, halfway through
the scene the camera broke down. It was Sven's fault: he shouldn't have
used a camera which had jammed several times before. The camera belongs
to the Film Institute, which means to nobody, and it's always like this
with any public, government, or communal property. Secondly, the English
special effects expert bungled the fire completely. He was able neither
to control the fire (something he had promised), nor to set the car and
the tree on fire at a specific moment. Everything was torn, the cables
burnt, etc. The Englishman got a load of money and happily departed, leaving
his obligation unfulfilled. His contract was prepared (by Anna-Lena?) completely
unprofessionally. Any person taken right from the street could — with such
a contract — act as an expert. His obligations had been communicated to
him just verbally. At first Anna-Lena panicked
and said the scene was very bad (because it wasn't filmed in a single take)
and that she did not know what to do. Then she thought it over and discusssed
it with our monster "Katyenka" (what kind of name is that!) and came to
the conclusion that it was good enough. And I said it wasn't good enough.
She dragged it on (losing 2 days) and together with "Katyenka" she found
the arguments: the new set would cost 60,000 dollars (!), nowhere to hire
the construction workers from (!), the burnt set was built over a four
month period — and now there is no time. I telephoned Larissa asking her
to come here immediately to help me straighten out this whole mess. Lara
calmed me down and we decided our course of action. Anna-Lena told Larissa I
had agreed to edit the scene out of existing material. Then she disappeared.
Larissa found her again and told her the film had no ending and that I'd
be forced to explain to the producers (and to Anatole Dauman especially)
why the production wasn't working. And he was just about to come to Gotland.
Anna-Lena laughed derisively but she got frightened and having secured
the Institute director's permission (although as she said she probably
didn't need his permission) she immediately found the workers and the set
got built in one week or even less. And it obviously didn't cost 60,000
dollars. I shot the scene for the second time on the last, fifty-fifth,
shooting day. Anatole Dauman and Chris
Marker (who shot a video on the set) have arrived. Also Gilles Alexandre,
a journalist from "Telerama." Before leaving they viewed the material
and they loved it. I really don't know what they found in it. Lara arrived on Gotland
with Christiana Bertoncini and Andryusha Nekrasov with whom she is learning
English. Next week she is going to Berlin for her driving licence exam
(she bought an Opel in Berlin), she is seeing the Chinese doctor and buying
furniture in Florence. The flat over there is ready. On 15 September I'd
like to begin editing in Florence or rather to continue it. Gaetano has
already bought building materials in Roccalbegna and today he met with
the architect. They went to see everything on the spot in order to prepare
the building plans. The Germans in Frankfurt
are ready to sign with me the contract for Hoffmanniana in September.
I mentioned a proposal from Anna-Lena who wanted me to make a film about
Kierkegaard with a budget of one million dollars. She told me she had already
arranged production with Zanussi. If she hadn't then perhaps I would do
it. We shall see. For now I must come to an
agreement with Anna-Lena so we could stay here with Lara until mid-September.
Naturally there will be problems — home, daily rates. We shall see. A lot has been done in Tyapa's
case: Larissa met with Mitterand who promised to help. As did Willy Brandt.
Also the foreign minister of Iceland. And Andreotti. But so far nothing
new, Gorbachov is behaving just like Andropov, faithfully following in
his footsteps. It is rumoured they will be letting Jews out again. Perhaps
it's only yet another KGB disinformation? Hard to say. I'm editing the film with
Michal Leszczylowski, a Pole living in Stockholm. I long for Tyapus terribly
and — surprise — for Italy. The film ought to be edited here — because
of the language. But I promised Franco Terilli this job and I must keep
my word. Oleg Vidov phoned from Rome
today. He married fictitiously a Yugoslav, he worked there, acted in film,
then escaped to Italy through Austria and in Rome asked Americans for political
asylum. I spent a fortnight on Gotland
with Lara. Anna-Lena helped us by renting for that period a house right
on the seashore, a very nice one (Sven Nykvist and Erland Josephson stayed
here during the filming). The weather was astonishing. Sunny and warm.
Every day we would go walking for hours, picking wild strawberries and
there were oodles of them. Nature here resembles our Baltic coast countries.
A combination of forest, pines, and northern sea with astonishingly beautiful
rocky shore where hundreds of birds live. Lara and I even thought of buying
some tiny house here which we could stay in for several weeks a year when
Italy is sweltering hot. We spent several happy,
peaceful days. We didn't feel like leaving. The happier one is, the faster
time flies. We rested a bit. Only this longing for Tyapus!
|
The happiest way of life is one that offers us most
opportunities of gaining self-respect. |
Samuel Johnson |
|
Happiness cannot be achieved through self-observation. It is experienced
only when it reflects off another person. |
Samuel Johnson |
3 August, Stockholm
We arrived in Stockholm.
We are editing at the Film Institute, there is a very good editing table
here. Lara is preparing to go to Berlin. This is caused by the necessity
to finish off the house in Florence. Sadness. Ernst Neizvestny telephoned:
he is in Sweden, he has a museum and an atelier here. He says he comes
to Sweden every summer. I intend to see him. Carlo Baumgartner asked
to postpone the signing of the Hoffmanniana contract until 15 September.
While on Gotland I met with Tommasi — the set designer with whom I intend
to work on the Flying Dutchman in Covent Garden. To do: Gospel (Steiner),
Steppenwolf
(Hesse), Poor Joan or Inquisitor, St. Anthony. Jan
(Joan)-na.
8 August, Stockholm
A lot has been happenning.
I began editing the film and I'm preparing the third variant already. The
first was simply the whole material put together. The second was 2 hours
36 minutes long. Went to Italy with Lara,
we were given Italian documents. The passport similar to the Nansen one.
Confusion and disarray accompanied it all. Under the 30 degree heat it
was all exceptionally tiring. Yet everything turned out well in the end.
We have a right to obtain Italian citizenship after five years. As proscribed
by law we were now offered political asylum in Italy. Personally I don't care
when it happens. Italians promised to settle this much earlier. Now we
have a meeting with a lawyer from Milan, Andreotti's friend, whose fees
Movimento Popolare want to cover. We are going to see him when Lara and
I are back in Florence. This is scheduled sometime after 20 September.
I'll be finishing the editing for a month over there. Franco Terilli is
setting everything up. I think the film is a success. We met with the deputy mayor
of Florence who confirmed we were given a flat at our disposal (120 m²
in the centre, with a balcony). Larissa intends to secure from them another
room — gallery on the top floor and to convert it into a study for me.
For now they are letting us keep an editing table and work there. Larissa is in Berlin where
she is buying furniture and other necessities. She wants to furnish the
Florence flat before 20 September. This is no easy task. Natan Fyodorovsky
and Christiana are helping her.
28 September, Switzerland, on the way from Sweden to Florence
Larissa is in Florence already
and is furnishing the flat. She bought lots of antiques in Berlin: plates,
kitchen furniture, carpets, gorgeous old chandeliers and lamps, mirrors,
candle holders. One could not even list it all. Also the audio equipment,
the VCR, and a stereo TV — for me and my work. It's all necessary for a
nice and homely place. And it was all relatively cheap considering she
was buying only antiques, except for kitchen furniture naturally. Natan
was very helpful. It was he who named prices to the shopkeepers and they
agreed! Simply unbelievable! Larissa speaks of them all as her friends.
As a result two houses were furnished at the same time if one includes
our (future) country home. Lara thinks the money spent on antiques is not wasted as the antiques will appreciate in time. I think so too. All this required two large trucks which Natan also helped to hire (much below the official rate, through his connections). I'm forever indebted to him for everything. Thanks to him and Christiana Lara was not so lonely in Berlin. But after arrival in Florence
all sorts of problems arose. All this furniture had to be carried up to
the sixth floor (no lift, spiral staircase), carefully so nothing would
break. She took a knock (as always), poor thing. Scary to think how much. Franco Terilli who was in Florence at the time did not help her at all. I was really surprised and saddened by this. Perhaps he was afraid of difficulties and responsibility? Larissa managed by herself. She was helped by the young people from Movimento Popolare. Nevertheless, she had to do most of the work. Her talent, energy,
stamina, and patience never cease to amaze me. What would I do without
her. I hope now, after five years of life of misery we are going to have
OUR OWN home. Lara is convinced (so am
I) that since we have a home, Andryusha and Anna Semyonovna will come.
Not too much money is left in the bank. Considering the future contracts
I think this can be fixed. Signing new contracts is most important. I'm on my way to edit Sacrificio. On the 2nd or 3rd I have to fly to
Paris to see Lang and I think Mitterand, and to be at the press conference
for Andryusha. I believe the film is a
success although I think I no longer possess the ability to understand,
to evaluate my work. I don't like the work of others. It seems I completely
lost my admiration for Bergman and Nykvist with his photography. But the
photography he did for the film was very good. I must quickly exchange
the remaining dollars in a Roman bank. The dollar is falling like a rock. I briefly met with a lawyer
in Zurich. A gloomy conversation about the taxes. Without fail I shall
have to find in Florence a lawyer who could take care of my taxes. It's
so hard. I have no energy left. I cannot go on like this without Andryusha
any more. I have no will to live.
10 November, Stockholm
I had a wonderful month
in Florence editing the film. Lara and I stayed with Benedetto Benedetti.
He is a very pleasant, very good man, completely immersed in opera. His
hospitality made me feel at home. He would frequently cook and prepare
magnificent, elaborate suppers for us. I edited every day from 9am to 7pm.
[...] Florence has made the nicest
impression on me. A fairy-tale, magical city, bringing hope and faith in
better future. There are problems with the flat here. The block where the
flat is hasn't been quite finished yet. There is no lift, gas, etc... Gaetano
came here from Roccalbegna and helped us put it in order. Inside — cardboard
walls and ceilings. Larissa wants to secure the room on the higher floor
for my study. Unending bureaucratic and administrative problems. If I had
a choice I would thank for the hospitality, snap my fingers at them and
leave. I have edited the film.
Henri Colpi arrived, saw it and said the film could not be shortened. There
will be a row anyway. The French producer (Dauman) and the Swedish distributor
will insist on 2 hr. 10 min., as in the contract, but I cannot make the
film shorter than 2 hr. 30 min. I talked to Klas Olofsson, the Film Institute
director, who said the film could not be shorter and asked to convene an
art council regarding the matter. He also asked to set up a show for Bergman.
I'm waiting for soundtrack tests. [...] Krzysztof Zanussi telephoned.
He was very nice and offered us his small Paris flat should we ever need
it. I spoke to Jure Lina: he
arranged a meeting with "the witch." She wants to see me.
11 November, Stockholm
I met with Olof Palme today.
He said there were two approaches. The first: a request through the foreign
ministry to allow my son to come to Sweden officially. In legal sense this
is almost impossible. The second: he will personally send a letter to the
government of the USSR asking that Tarkovsky's son be let out to the West
(doesn't matter where to). And he'll deliver this letter through his ambassador
in the USSR. This solution would be, obviously, much better.
13 November, Stockholm
The voice tests have not
been prepared to this day. This is simply incredible. As a result we are
losing time as we have no variants prepared with other actors.
18 November, Stockholm
I'm ill. Bronchitis, some
nonsense with the occiput and muscles pressing on the nerves. Because of
that I feel pain in my neck and arms. I'm coughing and have a running nose.
And we should be working on the soundtrack now. We are losing time.
19 November, Stockholm
[...] I talked to Moscow.
And what news can I tell them! Without me the work at the
Film Institute grinds to a halt.
23/24 November, Stockholm
I am rather seriously ill.
I had an awful clash with
Anna-Lena over the 2 hours and 10 minutes. Marina Loupan has left Andryusha
Yablonsky. Andryusha is in a lot of pain. Lucy arrived from Warsaw
and is in our home in Florence. Thank God, Larissa won't be alone anymore!
I phone her twice a day every day but she is very upset because of my illness
and she insists on a general medical examination which she thinks I absolutely
must do. The talks between Gorbachov
and Reagan are over. There is hope for next year.
30 November, Stockholm
[...] Anna-Lena cannot and
does not want to work at all. Her only concern is saving money. An awful
argument because of film length. I'm ill. I should have had
blood tests and a chest X-ray done. I have no results yet. Lara telephoned.
She is very worried. What can I tell her?
6 December, Stockholm
I'm ill. [...] The X-ray results are in.
There is a dark spot on the left lung. Either pneumonia or something worse.
The doctor sent the X-rays off for consultation. Yesterday I was coughing
blood. Also today but not as much. I miss Larissa so much, particularly
when I don't feel well.
10 December, Stockholm
[...] Anna-Lena sent a telegram
to Cao saying that if I do not shorten the film she will not pay me the
remaining 55 thousand dollars. For now this is only blackmail. I have received
a sharply worded letter from the Film Institute director and I answered
it very dryly to the effect that I was surprised by his position: either
he wants a film by Tarkovsky or some random commercial film 130 minutes
long (the length is written down in the contract). Then I was on the phone
with Anna-Lena for almost an hour. Then she had a talk with the director
and said my letter contained valid arguments. [...]
11 December, Stockholm
[...] Forman's Amadeus
got 8 Oscars. It's worthless anyway. In every respect. Maybe one Salieri
isn't too bad except the concept of the character is terrible. Not so much
terrible as not too human. [...]
13 December, Stockholm
This is a true black Friday.
I went to see a doctor at the [Karolinska?] clinic. They were very precise.
Even too precise! [...] They took another X-ray (or several X-rays). There
is something in the left lung. The doctor said it's either an inflammation
(doubtful because the dark patch didn't go away despite the antibiotics
I had been taking) or TB or a tumour. [...]
15 December, Stockholm
[...] But Lara comes first.
How am I going to tell her? How can I inflict, with my own hands, such
a terrible blow on her?!
21 December, Stockholm
I'm flying to Italy on the
23rd. Taking everything with me. I want to see Michal Leszczylowski
to tell him how he should touch up the film if I'm unable to go to Stockholm
to do it. [...] How is Larissa going to
take it all? How should she behave toward Andryusha and her mother? We
still must insist on their arrival here. Andryusha needs freedom. One cannot
live in prison. We are on this road and we must walk it to the end.
24 December
I arrived home yesterday.
Franco Terilli was waiting for me in Rome and drove me to Florence in his
car. The journey was tolerable (although I frequently took the medicine
prescribed by the Swedish professor — ordinary painkillers, of course).
For now I haven't told Franco anything. A radiant Larissa has greeted
me. She didn't suspect anything and full of joy she was showing me the
rooms which stunned me. Everything is beautifully furnished, in good taste.
I have no idea how she has managed it, in such a short time, slightly over
a month, from all this chaos and all those imperfections of the flat itself
to create such a thing. Everything is already done, even the fireplace
— bricks and everything needed for it. Larissa alone with Lucy's help has
brought all this upstairs. No-one (even for a fee) would want to carry
such a heavy load up to the sixth floor. Gaetano has a backache, that's
why he couldn't help. Bent double he tried to finish the fireplace before
my arrival because there is no heating in the block yet. Lara bought gas
heaters but they are not sufficient. A surprisingly nice and
comfortable kitchen, living room. The other room is darker with very beautiful
wooden wardrobes and she turned it into an excellent place to keep clothes.
Andryushka's room is furnished with English antiques. A splendid room for
Anna Semyonovna. But of all this I liked our bedroom most, with comfortable
old-fashioned beds, an iconostas of good early icons which Lara and Natan
bought in Berlin, in the shop "Russian Icons." Generally speaking, everything
is ready for living. Larisa wants to organise New Year's party to
celebrate the new flat, she is convinced our family will soon be here.
With all this commotion I forgot about the most important — how to tell
her? When I saw Lara I understood how dear she was to me and how much I
needed her in these terrible times. Andryusha Yablonsky arrived
a bit later the same evening. Mariana has left him, he is completely broken.
[...] I had a long conversation with him although I was lying down, feeling
tired. We drank the great village wine and we ate pecorini Lara had brought
from Roccalbegna. He knows the extent of my illness and tries to persuade
me to undergo treatment. But I know the character of the tumour cells and
I am convinced treatment would only mean prolongation and increase of the
suffering — and why suffer so much? I decided until New Year's
Day not to tell Larissa anything. [...]
1 January
We greeted New Year, did
not invite anyone. I am not feeling well. The only guests by the big festive
table were Andrei Yablonsky, Gaetano, and Lucy. I tried to keep a stiff
upper lip and not ruin the holiday. There were toasts to my health, to
the reunion with Tyapa and Anna Semyonovna this year, to realisation of
my creative plans. I barely held out. We received a multitude of greeting
cards and telephone calls. We phoned Moscow, talked to our dears there.
Lord, strengthen my will! Life is so difficult, simply unbearable. Larissa worries about my
health a lot, she insists that I should call a doctor and she looks at
me somehow anxiously and searchingly as if she suspected something. I keep
putting off that horrible moment of telling her. I'm afraid. The pain increases
with every passing day. I have to get a new prescription at once. My head
feels heavy — it's difficult even to read. Only one thought: what will
happen to Lara and the children.
2 January
Everything went as I predicted.
This was what I had feared most. Larissa on her own had guessed and asked Yablonsky
directly about it. And he — instead of preparing her, finding the right
words — told her honestly that I had (if I was not treated) between four
and six weeks to live, and that I downright refused to be treated, I could
not be persuaded. Larissa went into shock, was unconscious for several hours,
the doctors with great difficulty managed to revive her. She was lying
all day and night unaware of her surroundings, numb, not crying and not
talking to anybody as if life had left her and only the body was there
with wide open unmoving eyes. I truly felt so horrible I forgot the main
reason for this accident. [...]
3 January
Larissa has recovered. She
contacted oncologists. She telephoned Sweden, talked to the professor who
had examined me and given his opinion about the tumour, then she phoned
Léon Schwartzenberg in Paris who is thought to be the best oncologist in
Europe. He told her we should come immediately after Christmas, after the
holidays, i.e., on 8 January. Every day counts. Lara has proved to me I
have to undergo treatment. [...] Larissa and Yablonsky are
making preparations for the trip. Krzysztof Zanussi is letting us use his
flat in Paris. But I'm worried how I'll manage during the flight. At home,
in Moscow, we haven't told anyone anything. I'm afraid rumours will reach
them. Lara told Ola on the phone that if they hear anything about my
illness it is a trick to help Tyapus and Anna Semyonovna to come here.
The poor thing believed it, of course. Carlo Baumgartner has arrived
— the producer from Berlin to sign the Hoffmanniana contract. Neither
Lara nor — obviously — I were in a condition to meet him. He talked to
Yablonsky. He is afraid and very worried about me. We phoned Irina Brown
in London to warn Tooley the work on the Flying Dutchman would be
impossible. Things look pretty bad.
10 January, Friday, Paris, hospital
[...] Marina Vlady has just
telephoned, she is helping us together with Léon Schwartzenberg who is
my doctor. She phoned and said ambassador Vorontsov told her Andryusha
would be let out literally within days. Did we really need a mortal illness
in order to be together! Now, Andrei, one must live! The night nurse
and Ali came to give me and Lara their greetings. Ali is also a night nurse.
11 January, Paris, hospital
Yes, I forgot about something
important yesterday: Marina gave me two cheques for sixteen and five thousand
francs to cover the treatment. Otherwise there would be no money to pay
for the scanner. She is simply an angel. We (now including Lara)
are staying at Zanussi's. Everyone is helping us. France wants to give
us very quickly passports, a flat, and cover the treatment to the end —
sounds so gloomy. Lucy is in Florence, in
the empty flat full of expensive furniture and electronic equipment. I don't
think it's safe. [...] Just a moment ago two people
from the Soviet embassy were here. The cultural attaché Victor Sokovich
(I met him once at Kondrashov's) and Aristov, the first secretary. They
brought a letter from the ambassador. Andryusha and Anna Semyonovna can
go, they will tell us when.
12 January, Sunday, at Marina's
Today we moved and have
already slept in Marina Vlady's home. I didn't feel too good during the
night. [...] I telephoned Moscow but Andrei wasn't home. I talked to Ola.
She is very sad, poor thing. I was calming her down as much as I could:
I told her that Mum and I would do what we can to have her come here as
soon as possible. In Moscow they know already our family is going to Paris,
somebody visited them and mentioned they would be departing on Saturday.
It is necessary to resume the activities regarding their arrival and to
take care of the train connection. Because of the search at the Sheremetyevo
airport they will not be able to take everything they need. This is so
strange — neither Anna Semyonovna nor Andriushka ever flew on an airplane,
until now. I can't believe in the possibility of their arrival at all,
nor in Tyapus being content here.
16 January, at Marina's
[...] Late in the evening
we talked with Andryusha, Anna Semyonovna, and Ola. Andryusha and Anna
Semyonovna know nothing about my illness.
18 January, Saturday, at Marina's
[...] I talked with Moscow.
I think I'm staying home, I'm not going to the airport, I feel too weak.
It could be too depressing. [...]
19 January, Sunday, at Marina's
Andryusha and Anna Semyonovna
have arrived! Anna Semyonovna hasn't changed one bit, she was only
feeling tired and weak which is understandable with all the travelling
and new experiences. I wouldn't recognise Andryusha in the street, he grew
much taller, 1 m. 80 cm., 15 years old at that! A good, loving boy with
a great smile. This is all like a miracle! Léon wrote a letter to Mitterand,
who in turn wrote a petition to Gorbachov. Gorbachov ordered their immediate
release. Only last Saturday I was writing the letter to the ambassador
(the decision had probably been made already) and within exactly one week
they are already here. Unbelievable! Chris Marker greeted and
filmed them at the airport and in Marina's flat. I couldn't get out of
bed and go to the airport. Naturally, they were harassed at the Sheremetyevo
airport. They delayed their departure because of some supposedly incorrectly
processed visa formalities. And then at the last moment they cleared them
for departure. As a result they lost their luggage.
21 January, at Marina's
Must try to move to the
city today, she is leaving on the 24th. Max Shostakovich phoned,
asked if he could help, he wants to see us. [...]
22 January, rue Claude-Terrasse
We moved from Marina's home
to temporary lodgings in Paris. 42/71 rue Claude-Terrasse. I had a bath
and felt really bad, the pain again. Léon was here this evening, on Sunday
I'm going to the clinic again. [...] Michal arrived from Stockholm
in the evening. Tyapus hasn't seen Paris
yet. Larissa is so busy, she has no time to spare, she is bustling about
feverishly, all the domestic matters and taking care of me are on her shoulders.
There is no money to hire anyone to help. The treatment is very expensive,
so is the flat, and living in Paris isn't cheap either. I am really worried
if she has enough strength left. [...]
24 January, Paris
Everybody showed up today:
Anna-Lena, Sven Nykvist, Michal, and Layla. I have prepared the screenplay
for publication and worked on the monologues. Then I shortened two scenes:
Alexander's first monologue (with the boy) — 1 minute 40 seconds, and Otto's
monologue with the quote from Montaigne — 40 seconds. Léon was here, bringing
good news on the blood analysis results, he said I should go to the clinic
as soon as possible. Right this Sunday while the treatment works well and
remains active. In the evening we had tea
in the family circle, we reminisced a lot, it was a good conversation,
very pleasant. To this day I can't believe Andryusha and Anna Semyonovna
are here, I fear I'm going to wake up. Layla made Andryusha and
Anna Semyonovna somewhat uneasy with her extravagance, not to mention Larissa
who cannot stand her. For her lack of manners and unreasonable ambition.
Not without reason, of course. But I cannot, having done the entire film
with her, let her go before the job is finished just to avoid having her
visit our home. It is difficult to find a translator in Paris with good
working knowledge of both Swedish and Russian.
25 January, Paris
I had a dream. I sort of
landed in the middle of a nest of vipers and when I finally managed to
get out, for a long time I couldn't free myself from the already dead harmless
vipers which clung to my body. I worked with Michal. Bruno Reikhlin, the architect,
arrived and showed us a terrible design for our house: 270 m. Totally unacceptable.
|
This is what one ought to be: like water. It knows no obstacles:
it flows, a dam stops it, it breaks the dam and it flows again,
it is rectangular
in a rectangular vessel, round in a round one; water is stronger and more
necessary than everything else. |
St. Basil the
Great |
31 January, Paris, hospital
[...] What to do if I live:
Apocalypse
or St. John? Hamlet, St. Anthony, Golgotha?Hamlet — that's
too well-known and derivative. St. Anthony — intimate, again a journey
into the deep. Gospel according to Steiner? Is it mine? And if it
were mine? Would I manage? And what if not Gospel, only one episode
from the Gospel? Is this too narrow? The only obvious thing is that
if — God willing — I shall make another film, it would have to be as important
as I could handle. I have made a promise to myself: no Hoffmanniana,
perhaps St. Anthony. [...]
7 February, Paris, hospital
[...] In the evening Chris
Marker brought the 16mm film from the welcoming of Andryushka and Anna
Semyonovna. I look terrible, unnaturally suppressing emotion and for some
unknown reason repeating over and over again: "But no, wait, where is the
luggage?" Obviously I wasn't thinking about any luggage lost by Aeroflot.
To think I behaved this way! Larissa was not much better either. She made
speeches that sounded like toasts although nobody asked her. She laughed
and she cried. But this was already at home. One cannot watch calmly the
welcoming at the airport when Tyapa and Anna Semyonovna appear. This whole
pain, suffering, despair, and fear that accummulated over six years was
visible in her eyes. This could not be conveyed even by the greatest actress.
This is the power of documentary cinema. Recording time of an action, like
on a photograph. On screen Andryushka looks
so much like an adult, a beautiful youth — very calm and loving. Anna Semyonovna
is splendid as always. She is composed and dignified, as if she never felt
the presence of the camera. How much our appearances must have frightened
them! For several long years we dreamt about meeting them and we couldn't
even imagine it would all happen the way it did. I'm welcoming them ill,
in bed, in a strange house. I'm indebted to Chris for making for us a film
about perhaps the most important moment of my life. There are good bits
in it. I think I could use them later in the documentary about me that
we want to do with Franco Terilli. Chris said Anatole Dauman
had for us a three-roomed flat.
|
Without faith man is ready at any time to renounce everything in
the name of which he lived and begin living in the name of everything
he cursed. |
Lev Tolstoy
|
14 February, Paris
Today is our dear Anna Semyonovna's
birthday. Living with her one cannot but marvel at her patience,
kindness, wisdom; she exudes peace and warmth of home. And like all
good people she is completely undemanding. But then the art of being
wise is to know what does not deserve our attention. [...] Many people
came today with the congratulations. Alain Malraux was here as well.
He said he had received an inquiry from Chirac regarding a home for us.
How many family members, etc. ... That's a good sign.
15 February, Paris
Chris Marker was here this evening.
He brought a gift from Dauman — a Walkman to listen to music. Chris says
Dauman constantly inquires after my health, our sad situation, he is genuinely
sympathetic and wants to help. And yet we know each other very little, we only
kept contact regarding the film of which he is the distributor. Anna-Lena said
he could be ruthless. But he allowed Chris Marker to set up a studio at his
production company and provided him the means. Chris is a talented, interesting
human being. I don't know how close he is to Dauman but there is something more
exceptional, subtle, and extraordinary than talent. It is the ability to feel
and appreciate talent. Not everybody possesses this ability after
all.
I listened to Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Truly, music is the best solace
for man in distress.
Krzysztof Zanussi arrived and Andryusha went with him to see the exhibit
"Paris – Vienna" and a Fellini film.
16 February, Paris
We telephoned Moscow. I talked
to Ola for a long time. She completely fell apart. She longs for us terribly.
I was trying to console her as much as I could. I told her we were doing everything
in our power to have her join us as soon as possible. Dakus also "spoke" and sang
his favourite "forgotten – abandoned." God, when are we going to free ourselves
from this prison at last! We have to diligently and immediately devote all our
energies to free Ola. Everyone in Moscow knows about my illness already but still
nobody telephones except two–three people, and nobody comes to visit.
It's even better that way, I have thrown them out of my memory long ago.
Strange, I have no feeling of loss and I feel no regret.
19 February, Paris
Léon was here. On Sunday
I am probably going back to the clinic. Robert Bresson and Charles [H.
de Brantes?] came to us for a visit, we had bliny. Bresson was charming,
we had a very pleasant conversation. He promised to visit us again sometime.
I was thinking of his brilliant films. I don't even know which one is the
best: Balthazar, Mouchette, Diary of a Country Priest, Trial of Joan
of Arc. In my opinion Journal d'un curé de campagne makes
the greatest impression. Everything in his films happens out of itself,
they have nothing to do with the kind of cinema termed "film production."
His films from the forties and fifities are all the same, there are no
differences between them. How magnificent Trial of Joan of Arc is
— it's simply amazing! Joan comes out of the cellar, the camera pans —
she walks, sits at the table, across sits a priest, the examining magistrate.
A shot of her — a shot of him, a shot of her — a shot of him, she says
something — he says something, next the interrogation is finished, she
stands up and leaves. The end. The episode is over. The second one is the
same. Episodes three and four are the same. Minimum tools and no extra
meanings from juxtapositions of shots. These various little tricks are
our invention. To make something look like a candy. Cinema's existence
is not enough for them. They have to make something bigger out of it, something
full of expression. Cinema is like poetry. They have to make superpoetry
out of poetry. Pushkin is not enough, something different and new is required... Bresson is a genius. Here
I can state it plainly — he is a genius. If he occupies the first place,
the next director occupies the tenth. This distance is very depressing. No, a man who lacks culture
will never create good cinema, never.
20 February
Sadness. I have a headache.
Volodya Maximov telephoned. He claims Marina Vlady and Okudzhava cooperate
with the KGB. He could be right. She knew the content of the letter from
Lubimov's son, the letter confiscated at the border. Lubimov says he did
not expect such a letter from his son, that his son is not like this. What
does this mean? Before the control she read somebody else's letter. Or
maybe there was no letter but there was a directive? Michal telephoned. He is
worried the work on the soundtrack is progressing too slowly. It is necessary
to phone Dauman to let him know that if he wants to have the film in Cannes
he should press Anna-Lena who does nothing to make sure we finish on time.
11 March
I haven't written anything
lately. I'm at home, I'm feeling bad. The day before yesterday Sven and
someone else from the lab proposed to review half of the film at our home.
I refused, didn't feel well. Andryusha drags Lara — a
victim of overprotective upbringing — to a science-fiction film festival
in Paris. They watch a whole load of this rubbish. Saint Anthony was born on the
17th of January.
15 March
Maxim Shostakovich announced
his visit yesterday but he didn't show up. Today we went for a walk around
Paris for the first time. We ate breakfast on the terrace of some restaurant.
It was a very nice spring day. I felt so warm in the sun as if it was summer
already. We were in a holiday mood. It warmed the cockles of my heart.
Perhaps it's my return to living? We walked for three long hours. I got
tired — after all I haven't done any walking for two months. Bruno is back — the architect
— to propose his new plan to us. Not a good one — as usual. I gave him
mine to work on. I worked with Christiana on the last chapter of
the book. It should be published before the Cannes festival where The
Sacrifice will be presented.
16 March
I viewed the edited version
today. We have to change a lot. The cuts are terrible. I watched the print
with Sven Nykvist. The print looks bad!
20 March
At home. Worked with Owe
Svensson and Michal Leszczylowski on the edit plan. What kind of weather
will they have? We had dinner with Krzysztof Zanussi and his wife. Titles for a film: Stigmata,
Martyrolog.
21 March
[...] Anna-Lena wants to
take me to Cannes but I don't feel like it. I guess I'm not going. [...]
26 March
It's getting worse. More
and more difficult to move around. Léon was here. On Monday I'm going back
to the clinic for the last cycle of chemo- and radiotherapy. Afterwards
it will be only chemistry which is a little easier to endure. Anna-Lena keeps talking
about Cannes. She has already rented a room for three, a bedroom and a
living room. I have finished reading
Flaubert's The Temptation of St. Anthony. It's an exceptionally
intellectual work, not very original, pompous. Seryozha Paradzhanov could
make a great adaptation out of it. [...] Akira Kurosawa who was here
on his way to Los Angeles has sent a letter and flowers.
3 April, Paris, still at home
I feel unwell all the time.
The Cannes festival is approaching and I don't know what to do. Viviane
said Konchalovsky's film Runaway Train would be on the festival.
Larissa wants to meet with Gilles Jacob and clear up everything: what films
are being presented, who is on the jury, etc. ... This will help me make
up my mind.
|
He who knows his death will not destroy him, is eternal. |
Lao-Tse
|
5 April, at home, Paris
I viewed the latest print
with Sven and listened to the edited sound. The sound is bad. Owe, the
sound operator, is good for nothing and Michal is not that great either.
I made some changes to improve the whole thing at least a little. If Michal
rings up I must tell him: 1. deliver 300 krona to
Sophia for the medicine, 2. take the passport photo, 3. set the night on the
pause, introduce the sound of a passing motorcycle, 4. ask Sophia or Jure Lina
how many times a day to drink the medicine.
6 April, Sarcelles
I'm going to the hospital today.
13 April, 17/10 rue Puvis-de-Chavannes
I moved from the hospital to
Dauman's apartment. We can stay here until we receive the flat from Chirac.
But even here it's cosy. That's thanks to Larissa. For the first time
since our arrival in Paris I feel at peace. What's very important is that
Anna Semyonovna and Andryushka do not feel like guests anymore, after so many
years of waiting and pain at last they feel at home.
God, was this the welcoming Lara and I were dreaming about?
But what's most important is that we are together — this alone borders on miracle already.
I also know that God won't allow anything bad to happen, I can feel a force inside me that
helps me fight for my life.
How often I am at fault by not objectively judging people around me! My lack of
patience towards them, or on the other hand too much trust, often lead to disappointments
or unexpected "discoveries". Those whom I considered my close friends turned out to be a
bunch of pitiful mediocrities. Instead of showing support for poor Anna Semyonovna — who was
left alone with the children, bearing responsibility for Andryushka and the home, and who
was left completely without any money (they had after all even taken away from us all means
of sending money to our family thus condemning them practically to poverty) — they
would run away in fear from Olga or Andryushka like from lepers whenever they bumped
into them in the street. Only two–three people would telephone them from time to time
or paid a visit. Had it not been for the help and effort of those
met here, in the West, I don't know what would have happened to them. I can't stand and
I don't understand those people, we talked to many of them so often after all, they
knew that in my situation I had no choice. But they all couldn't care less that
I had remained unemployed for seventeen years, with everything this situation implied, and that
I had no means of realising my projects. There were also those who swore their friendship and
later were happy to participate in campaigns organised against me.
All those dinner table debates about the
freedom of the individual, creativity, etc. ... All those clean dishonest clichés which
are so characteristic of Russian nature, this lack of responsibility. It's impossible to describe
it better than Dostoyevsky in Demons. A prophetic novel of genius. Perhaps it's even
more relevant today than in Dostoyevsky's times. No man recognising his own worth would
allow this kind of treatment forever. I have never regretted my decision.
Not even the smallest shadow of a doubt has ever crossed my mind. I
understood that according to my notion of what friendship is I had no friends,
and there can be no friendship where there is no freedom. If anyone
suffered because of my decision it was Lara and I, our family and our children.
Together with the arrival of Andryushka and Anna Semyonovna the feeling
one usually calls "nostalgia" has left me completely. It was probably
caused by my longing for those dearest to me.
I think those who scream the loudest about freedom do not tolerate it too well
themselves. Freedom means responsibility — that's why so many are afraid of it.
I knew neither Volodya Maximov nor Slava Rostropovich in Moscow. Yet as soon
as they heard of our dreadful situation they immediately contacted us
and offered their help. Volodya organised our press conference and came to
Milan with Slava. They offered me a lot of support during that difficult
period of my life, let alone all their help later. Volodya kept sending
money against all difficulties to Moscow to Anna Semyonovna and this
at the time was the most important thing. To this day I'm surrounded by their
good will and true friendship and it helps me feel less lonely knowing
there are people ready to extend a friendly hand at any time. In our current
situation that's a lot.
Were there at least one letter, one telephone from my former friends.
I don't expect anything from them, by the way. Romadin appeared here once,
he telephoned. He had an exhibit in Paris. What could he be thinking,
after he and Vita came to us, to our Moscow home (Gordon brought them —
I asked Anna Semyonovna not to contact him) and he demanded one painting
of his which he'd given me as a present fifteen years ago — for an
exhibit, supposedly. But then he hasn't returned it. The painting's title
was The Gift. Like I am going to meet him! I feel ashamed
for him. I remember Misha when he was completely different but that was
a long time ago. Afterwards he changed completely, he lost his stature
somehow. Too bad! God be with them all! What's most important is living
at peace with one's conscience.
14 April, rue Puvis-de-Chavannes
My chest has been hurting
terribly for two days after the treatment at the hospital. Without delay
I have to see Franco Terilli regarding my work. Or several projects to
be exact. The first — a film "about myself" (I feel so ashamed), the second
— a documentary on "life after life," the third — Hoffmanniana.
Immediately! Everything humanity has
ever invented is selfish except works of art. Perhaps the meaning of human
existence lies in creating works of art, in creative act, purposeless
and unselfish one. It's possible us being created in God's image manifests
itself through this act.
22 April
News. Bondarchuk is going
to Cannes with Boris Godunov. He knows I'm also going to compete
but is not afraid as if he already knew he'd get the prize. One simply
doesn't know what to do. Today at daybreak I heard
a voice: "Andrei!" I answered "What?" — and woke up. Nobody was there.
Lara bought a thermometer. At 4pm today I had a 39 degrees temperature,
then half an hour later 39.5.
27 April
I'm staying in bed
all the time. It looks like they are sending me to Bâle before the
festival — a convalescent sanatorium in Switzerland — to rest and recover
(if it's possible). How much does this cost? Lara's opinion is I must go
regardless of the cost.
28 April
At 6pm, 34 rue [de] Pontoise
— showing the film, I can invite eight (important) persons. Lara and I
went to the show with Yablonsky who fell asleep surprising everyone somewhat.
The film which she hadn't seen before in its final version made a deep
impression on Lara. For a long time she couldn't calm down and she didn't
sleep all night. The film was shown to some
advisors of Dauman's and to journalists. Supposedly everybody was simply
delighted. Léon was there with Marina. The print isn't too good. I recorded
some remarks for Michal on the dictaphone.
29 April
I was coughing all day today.
Together with Léon and Lara I decided that if I go to Bâle, it will
be after Cannes. Léon cried all day after the film. He decided to put me
on the mend with chemotherapy before Cannes (injections).
30 April, rue Puvis-de-Chavannes
Cough. Larissa went with
Tyapa to Florence. It is empty and sad around here now. A crazed Natan
Fyodorovsky telephoned: he was robbed and then he was barely able to find
our phone number in his notebook. Yesterday or the day before yesterday
the news came out of a catastrophe at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl
in Ukraine. The reactor core is melting and the graphite is on fire. An
evacuation of the whole region 70 kilometres north of Kiev. An enormous
contaminated cloud moved north and yesterday passed over Norway and Sweden.
The USSR has asked the FRG and Sweden for help. Andrei Yablonsky has just
brought the news he heard on the BBC: near the first nuclear power plant
another Soviet one is on fire. Dnepr is now completely contaminated.
2 May, at Dauman's home
[...] Lara and Andryushka
telephoned. I miss them very much. Andryushka likes Florence a lot. He
doesn't feel (as he put it) like leaving the home which made an unusually
strong impression on him. [...] Florence and Italy in general feel close
to his heart. I am very happy about that. Paris hasn't impressed him as
much. [...] I was convinced Italy would impress him as it impressed me.
It's amazing, his inner world is the same as mine. Six horrible years have
not destroyed our spiritual bond; I have always felt it. [...]
7 May
[...] Léon and Marina came
to supper today. I decided not to go to Cannes. Not only I'm in bad form,
I feel very bad. I would just create a most undesirable impression.
8 May
Andryusha and Lara came
back from Florence this morning. Andryusha is full of new impressions and
he loves Roccalbegna. He would have been delighted to stay in Italy and
not return to Paris. Lara has for the time being set aside the problems
of the Florence home and everything else. Lucy is to go to Warsaw for one
week. We have to immediately find someone who could live there during her
absence. Under no circumstances can we leave the flat empty. I cough all the time. I
feel horrid. A conflict with Anna-Lena regarding the conditions for departure
to Cannes. The state I'm in right now means I'm not going to the festival.
Michal phoned in the morning. There was a great [TV?] programme yesterday
in Stockholm about the film. The première is on the ninth.
9 May
I am in a bad way. I force
myself to do some walking. I am not going to Cannes so as not to shock
the journalists. Perhaps my appearance would be good for the film but my
future work — if there is any — could suffer from it. [...]
10 May
Léon was here. He talked
to Anna-Lena. On Tuesday we begin treatment again (at home this time —
chemotherapy). Lara told me she had paid off all the bills and debts
from the money she had in Florence and for the remaining sum she bought
small gifts for Tyapus. He is very pleased. Sven telephoned with congratulations
about the Stockholm première. The film has been received very well,
the press was also very good. Articles about prophecies on account of the
nuclear catastrophe. Sven was indignant to learn the Film Institute did
not send me congratulations after the première.
12 May
Today is the première
of The Sacrifice in Cannes. Michal telephoned in the morning. He
said at the show for film critics many audience members cried. As it turns
out, Anna-Lena to this day has not paid a single penny of the outstanding
sum.This is so mean! Victor telephoned from Cannes
and he also said the film was received well. What's important are the showings
for general audience and for the jury, at 10pm. Michal will telephone tomorrow.
Anne-Lena phoned but I did not tell her anything about the money. I was
in no condition for it. I feel very weak, I'm to have a blood transfusion.
13 May
[...] Thirteen film critics
from various countries have voted. Ten gave three stars, three gave two
stars each. The maximum is three stars. I'm waiting for Michal's
phone call. I want to know how the general audience received the film yesterday
evening.
15 May
I feel a little better.
Telephones from Cannes all day long. Léon and Marina came to supper today.
Anna-Lena phoned again and talked to him about me going to Cannes if there
is a prize. He was unyielding. Yesterday after supper I
was very tired. Lara is also tired, she doesn't sleep well, thousands of
things to do, problems. She is worried mostly on my account. We have to
shape our lives somehow, send Andryusha to school, get Olga out. Although
she is strong, Anna Semyonovna also frequently feels unwell. Naturally
the biggest problem is that I feel very bad.
16 May, Friday
[...] My film is getting
great reviews.
18 May, Sunday
Today Andryushka has flown
off to Cannes with Mariana. If the film gets a prize he will receive it
in my name. Larissa didn't agree, she didn't want to leave me alone. I
think he was very nervous although he was trying not to show it. I told
him that if I receive the prize he will have to speak in public and give
interviews. He responded: "Dad, if you trust me I hope you won't have to
feel ashamed." He didn't really feel like flying there — I heard him
talking to Larissa. These are his first steps into adulthood, a terrible
responsibility. We'll see...
19 May, Monday
Anna-Lena telephoned. Jury
was not inclined too positively: four votes for our film, four against,
three abstaining. The film has already received the FIPRESCI prize, the
international journalists' prize, and the Ecumenical Jury prize. It's evening, ten past six.
The results will be announced after seven o'clock. For now we don't know
anything. During the morning telephone call Anna-Lena sounded optimistic.
Then I talked to her at about two. She said no decision was made yet.
20 May
So, no Palm, but a Special
Jury Prize. They say the journalists and the critics are upset and are
preparing a protest. We watched the giving away of the prizes on television.
Andryushka received my prize, gave an interview, he looked very beautiful
and dignified, he was applauded for a long time. He was not at all embarrassed.
He behaved as if receiving prizes in Cannes was an everyday occurrence.
Truly I did not expect such resourcefulness from him. My Tyapus has grown
up. Today for the first time he appeared to me an independent, mature young
man. [...]
22 May
Lots of newspaper articles.
Everyone is upset with the Cannes jury decisions. Mitterand on TV has criticised
the festival harshly. [...]
23 May, at home
Anatole Dauman paid us a
visit on account of the Cannes prizes. He was — that was my impression
— very saddened by the unjust, in his opinion, jury decision regarding
The Sacrifice. They say the film which received the Golden Palm
[The Mission, dir. Roland Joffé], made by a British director
for American money, was not completely finished. How certain must one be
of success to bring to a festival an unfinished film! Thus it was already
known beforehand that the main prize — regardless of the circumstances
— will go to this film. For me those who want to give their attention
to my films are the greatest prize. Yes. Americans because of their money
are gradually pulling the audiences away from auteur cinema. We talked with Anatole Dauman
about the problems of contemporary cinema. He is one of the few producers
with a definite talent for understanding, feeling, and correct evaluation
of the nature of cinema as such. It's no accident he worked with Bresson,
Godard, Wenders, Colpi. Unfortunately not too many producers try to support
auteur cinema nowadays. The majority perceives film not as art but as a
chance to make money through transformation of the celluloid film into
ordinary merchandise. I was moved by him. I have
come to know him well. He appears curt and cold but is in reality extraordinarily
delicate, a little sentimental, sometimes even naive, and certainly a good
man. Goodness is an inborn trait, one cannot acquire it. Either you have
it or you don't. I am indebted to Anatole for his attitude and his help.
His home, where we live right now, is in a house which previously belonged
to his parents. With tenderness he told us about them and about his family
history, he was very pleasant. [...]
7 September [Ansedonia]
[...] Franco Terilli came
for a visit. We talked about dubbing The Sacrifice in Italian. He
wants to come here with Ricardo Cuccuolla to select the voices for the
overdubs. Ricardo will himself dub Erland. He is a wonderful actor and
a fascinating human being. I can be assured of the quality of the Italian
version. Franco is great. [...]
30 November [back in Paris]
Franco Terilli and
Ricardo Cuccuolla have come to see me in Paris. They brought the Italian
version of The Sacrifice. Chris Marker helped to set up the viewing,
he brought the video equipment. The dub is magnificent, I am very happy
with it. The voices are overlaid absolutely perfectly. Everything was done
very professionally. Ricardo brought Italian gifts for us: a huge loaf
of bread which he had specially ordered somewhere and a village basket
filled with fruits. It all looked very rustic and so Italian. I was sorry
to see them leave.
3 December, Paris
Anna-Lena telephoned today (!! ??).
She said: 1. that she had set up a fund
to help with Andryusha's education, which means that the USA, England, and Sweden
are assuming all expenses; 2. USSR want to buy
The Sacrifice and I have the rights. Now we have to decide the details
of the transaction because the Soviets should not find out I own
the rights. This is simply unbelievable news.
She will phone me again tomorrow. This is exactly Anna-Lena. [...]
6 December, Paris
|
1. |
|
For Pio (urgently): Joan of
Arc. Phone Andryusha in Florence.
|
2. |
The last portion of Sculpting in Time. Urgent.
|
3. |
The letter to Japan. (Theses.) With Yablonsky.
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4. |
The letter to Bill Pence and Stella.
|
5. |
Thank for the roses. Larissa.
|
6. |
As soon as possible find out for what amount
my films are being sold (from Dauman?).
Find out what it means to sell a print
without original materials. Is it cheaper?
|
7. |
Franco. The fireplace in Florence.
|
8. |
Urgently the interior in San Gregorio
and begin the construction.
|
9. |
Dry trees and firewood.
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10. |
Anya's telephone bill.
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11. |
Put the Opel in the garage.
|
12. |
Andryusha should obtain a driving licence.
|
13. |
Resolve the water problem in San Gregorio (the pool).
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14. |
Letters of thanks: to Antonioni, Werner, Anna-Lena,
Michal, Tommasi.
|
15. |
Prepare a document with attorneys to forbid
publication of my manuscripts and fragments
anywhere without an official permit.
Perhaps we should stop the texts for "Figaro"?
|
16. |
Do not lose Carlo Tommasi (Austria). A very
respectable man and of course a master.
|
17. |
Prepare exercises in film theory and theory
of literature for Andryusha.
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