It is the opinion of Ingmar Bergman and of many others in the film world that Andrey Tarkowsky is the most important director of our time. Since Ivan's Childhood won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1962, the visionary quality and totally original and haunting imagery of films such as Andrey Roublev, Stalker, Solaris, Mirror and Nostalgia have captivated audiences all over the world and for many they have provided a profound spiritual experience. Various critics have attempted to interpret Tarkovsky's intense personal vision but until now he himself has said little. In Sculpting in Time he writes for the first time about his work: the original inspiration for his films; their history; his method of work; the problems of visual creativity; and the often strongly autobiographical contents of films such as Mirror and Nostalgia. It is a book that will be essential reading for Tarkovsky's many admirers and for anyone interested in the cinema, but also for all who are concerned with the culture issues of our time. The book is illustrated with stills from Tarkovsky's films and complemented by extracts from the poetry of Arseniy Tarkovsky, the author's father.