Andrei Tarkovsky released his debut film, Ivan’s Childhood, in 1962 after graduating from the Soviet film school VGIK.

The film tells the story of Ivan, a 12-year old boy embroiled in the Soviet’s war against the Nazis during WWII. Ivan is first seen frolicking in a lush woods before beginning to fly. Ivan then meets with his mother who presents him with a bucket of water. As he begins to talk with his mother, an abrasive screech disturbs the scene, and Ivan bolts awake in a dark barn.

Tarkovksy continues to use this format through the rest of the film. When he is amongst others, Ivan is tight-lipped and secretive. Instead of conveying Ivan’s past through dialogue, Tarkovsky prefers to rely on dream sequences, which allow for a more expressive retelling of Ivan’s life. In his text Sculpting in Time, Tarkovksy outlines his belief that there are several truths in the world that do not lend themselves easily to dialogue. We are also able to see the two sides of Ivan: on the outside, he is determined and collected. Through his dream sequences, however, Ivan is revealed as a troubled boy whose life has been ripped apart by the horrors of war. It is shown that both of Ivan’s parents, as well as his sister, were killed by the Nazis, leaving Ivan with an overwhelming need for revenge.

From the beginning, it is clear that this is not a film concerned with how the world actually is, but how Ivan sees the world. As such, Tarkovksy places Ivan in very expressive environments, showcasing Ivan’s impression of the world around him. One famous image from the film shows Ivan surrounded by broken, jagged wood jutting out towards him. As Ivan steps towards the splinters, the wood surrounds him, and takes on a menacing feeling. The impression is created that the world itself is reaching out to threaten Ivan.

WIth his debut film, Tarkovsky set himself an impressive backing for his future career. Today Ivan’s Childhood is remembered as one of the best films of the post-Kruschev thaw Soviet Union.