The Steamroller and the Violin
by Andrei Tarkovsky
Our Price: $129.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $10.62 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Igor Fomchenko, Marina Adzhubei, Vladimir Zamansky, Vyacheslav Borisov, Yuri BrusserDirector: Andrei Tarkovsky
Brand: Facets Multimedia
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Running Time: 46 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-06-11
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Facets
DVD Reviews of The Steamroller and the Violin
DVD Review: The Resonance of True Genius!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Steamroller and The Violin is a 43-minute featurette made in 1960. It is in color, in Russian (with clear English subtitles), and in very good condition for a long-archived film. The DVD Special Features are (1) a 2-page filmography and (2) a 12-page biography of the director, Andrei Tarkovsky. The biography is somewhat difficult to read but has many points of interest such as this reference that "the 50-minute film helped the young director complete his program (of film studies) with honors".The central characters are a young boy, Sasha, and a steamroller-operator, Sergei. Sasha has studied the violin for two years but his musical talent/sensibilities set him apart from other boys of his age. It is the bullying intimidation of Sasha by these boys that bring Sasha into contact with Sergei, an adult whom the bullying children fear/respect. The affinity between Sasha and Sergei moves beyond the linear storyline and there is value in viewing them as one and the same person at two different levels of artistic experience i.e. the two parts of the divide between artistic imagination/ability and the practical discipline. Be that as it may, on the basic story level, Sasha the boy and Segei the man are divided by age, social purpose, personal abilities, etc; yet, these two very different people add nourishment, warmth, confidence, and recognition of personal value to each other's life.
As the DVD biography points out, there are many parallels between the story and the life/career of the director. For example, this was Tarkovsky's diploma film. This has immediate parallel with Sasha going to a violin examination. Then, there is the parallel between Tarkovsky's opinions on Soviet film institutions and the examiner in this movie who all but brings young Sasha's attempt at playing to a standstill; she even sends him away with a rather rueful evaluation that he has "too much imagination"! Later, to Sergei, Sasha ably shows the natural depth of his musical knowledge and talent (while Tarkovsky simultaneously shows his acceptance of his own genius; regardless of what Soviet authorities may think!). The parallels between Sasha and Tarkovsky create a music and dialog all of their own!
Equally, just as Sergei when hearing Sasha play, the viewer will effortlessly find this warm, charming, and intelligent movie shine like a symphony of loving praise for mutual human respect and its affinity with individual/artistic freedom!
To close, I can only agree with the DVD cover note that this featurette "clearly marks Tarkovsky as the great cinematic genius he would become with such films as Andrei Rublev, Solaris, and The Mirror". A truly wonderful multi-faceted gem of a movie, a delightful set of actors, and a true joy to view!
Description of The Steamroller and the Violin
STEAMROLLER AND THE VIOLIN - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Senso (The Criterion Collection)IMG; Release date: 2011-02-22; DVD
Best price: $15.67
Price in other shops:
Solaris (The Criterion Collection)Image Entertainment; Release date: 2002-11-26; DVD
Best price: $32.18
Price in other shops:
Burnt by the SunRelease date: 2003-07-15; DVD
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
![Nostalghia - 1983, Andrei Tarkovsky [Import, All Regions] Image](/images/Nostalghia-1983-Andrei-Tarkovsky-Import-All-Regions-B001MPS7GG-X.jpg)
Nostalghia - 1983, Andrei Tarkovsky [Import, All Regions]DVD
Best price: $15.95
Andrei Rublev (The Criterion Collection)Image Entertainment; Release date: 1999-02-02; DVD
Best price: $22.55
Price in other shops:
Voyage in TimeFacets Video; Release date: 2004-11-23; Published: 2004-11-01; DVD
Best price: $18.18
Price in other shops:
The SacrificeKino International; Release date: 2000-03-07; DVD
Best price: $21.71
Price in other shops:
Stalker: A Film by Andrei TarkovskyKino International; Release date: 2006-11-07; DVD
Best price: $18.83
Price in other shops:
The MirrorKino International; Release date: 2000-04-10; DVD
Best price: $16.95
Price in other shops:
Ivan's Childhood (The Criterion Collection)Image Entertainment; Release date: 2007-07-24; DVD
Best price: $18.71
Price in other shops: