On this episode of the podcast, host Dr Pasquale Iannone is joined by MSc Film Studies student Lauren Thompson to discuss one of the most critically acclaimed and influential films of all time. Andrei Tarkovsky’s fourth feature Mirror (1975) weaves together moments in the life of dying poet in a bold, non-linear style. It’s a deeply personal cinematic poem about memory, history and family, and 2025 marks its 50th anniversary.
Lauren and Pasquale begin by offering their thoughts on Tarkovsky's work more broadly and then they turn to an extended discussion of Mirror, covering elements such as the use of editing and voiceover. The discussion rounds off with a consideration of the film's influence on successive generations of filmmakers, from Christopher Nolan to Claire Denis.