Episode 129: MIRROR (1975)

Warning: This podcast was recorded at 7 a.m. Central on a Sunday morning. Minor bullshit, “on one”-ness, and legitimately enlightening discussion ensue. It was stupid of me to write that THE SACRIFICE (1986) is Tarkovsky’s most personal film. That’s definitely MIRROR. Depicting stories from Tarkovsky’s own life and cognition with a dreamlike throughline, it’s a movie that seeks to explore the relationship of self and memory rather than explain it. It can be hard to even summarize, full of nonlinear scenes only loosely connected by theme: A dying poet reciting his work atop vignettes of a tortured life; the dissolution of a marriage, dying hope for the future, and the relinquishing of cultural identity; the definition of self amid the oppression of the state. It’s about how our selves get mixed in among our memories, and what place personal stories have in learning about others; it’s best approached as a whole rather than in the moment, which makes it a great movie to podcast about. Resources - “The Films of Andrei Tarkovsky: A Visual Fugue” by Vida T. Johnson & Graham Petrie: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/films-of-andrei-tarkovsky-vida-t-johnson/1110992238 Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trylovepodcast and email us at [email protected] to get in touch! Buy tickets and support the Trylon at https://www.trylon.org/. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Music: “The Indian Queen” composed by Henry Purcell, performed by Bath Festival Orchestra, and conducted by Yehudi Menuhin from the MIRROR soundtrack. 0:00 - Episode 129: MIRROR (1975) 2:22 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary 5:04 - Jason’s thoughts 7:57 - Cody’s thoughts 12:50 - Harry’s thoughts 19:39 - Aaron’s thoughts 27:07 - The dissolution of the self in memory 33:11 - Tarkovsky, reflections, and time 41:57 - Using dreams and time to understand the self 45:43 - A confrontation with the limitations of the self 51:17 - What does it mean to be a “personal” film? 1:07:44 - Cody’s Noteys: Morning Edition (Upon Reflection… )