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Ivan's Childhood
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Ivan's Childhood

1962
Drama
War
1h 35m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 72.46% from 1793 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(1793)
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Rated 02 Dec 2007
86
87th
Tarkovsky's first feature is a masterpiece of cinematography. Almost every shot is a wonder, from Kholin standing astride a ditch, embracing Masha while her legs dangle in mid-air to a burned-out airplane buried in the sand to the astonishing dream sequences. It's more stylized than his later films, although those have remarkable photography for their own reasons. The story is not especially complex, but it is a moving and genuine tale of a war orphan whose childhood was taken from him too soon.
Rated 26 Jan 2012
89
92nd
I was really blown away by the cinematography, there are so many amazing shots that I could call my favorite. The visuals and atmosphere of Ivan's Childhood even reminded me of my favorite film - Apocalypse Now, in some ways. As for the story, it is very interesting and sad. The actor who portrayed the title character was outstanding.
Rated 30 Jun 2020
86
83rd
Visually stunning and tactile, a powerful sense of environment. Often the best character in a Tarkovsky movie is the setting, yet here the fated Ivan shines in a remarkably demanding role for a kid. Preoccupation with plot specifics/exposition seems to be a vestige of literary adaptation, and wrapping up the entire war with a second-coming-of-Christ bow is a little much. I know Andrei denies symbolism, but walking on water? Come on now, he knows a cross ain't just a stake in the ground.
Rated 13 Dec 2012
79
70th
Tarkovsky's first film lacks the esoteric nature of his later work, but don't take that as a deficit. Ivan's Childhood is a strong beginning to a tremendous career, and while it may not be his best movie, it's still a good watch.
Rated 19 Nov 2009
79
50th
Simple yet evocative story about a young boy's lost innocence, complete with stunning cinematography and inventive camerawork. Perhaps stretched a little thin, even considering its short running time, but I look forward to seeing more Tarkovsky with great anticipation.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
97th
One of the best war movies, and one of the best movies featuring a child protagonist. Beautifully photographed. More accessible than most of Tarkovsky's later work.
Rated 21 Jan 2010
84
65th
The cinematography here is stunning, and Burlyayev is impressive as the young protagonist. The film is at its best when he is on screen, except for in the final act of course, whose power comes from Ivan's absence.
Rated 30 May 2010
87
87th
More coherent than Tarkovsky's other films, it still has haunting imagery and rich thematic depth. The way the commentaries on war and innocence are intertwined is very well done.
Rated 16 Jul 2011
87
96th
Andrei Tarkovsky's first movie is also probably his most accessible one; this, however, doesn't mean this is a simple movie in any way. It features enough symbolism to keep your mind preoccupied both during and after the movie. This movie also features one of the best child actors that I have seen; Nikolai Burlyayev does an amazing job of portraying a 12 year old child who carries a burden that makes him seem more weathered than even a veteran of a war.
Rated 13 Jun 2009
94
99th
The opening of the movie is just perfect. The kid actor is pro already. The message, ascetic sets, shooting and story are amazing. Ingenious sound world. Very strong acting and beautiful White Russian birch woods.
Rated 27 Jul 2007
96
95th
For a directorial debut, I can't think of too many others that are this impactful and haunting. The story in and of itself is very disturbing as you literally see the toll the war has taken on this young boy, and the striking visuals, direction, and mood really drive it all home. Ivan's Childhood is a masterpiece and is easily one of the best movies I've ever seen.
Rated 23 Aug 2007
93
94th
This movie looks absolutely amazing. I was blown away. I would have never thought this would be a directorial debut.
Rated 10 Jan 2017
5
93rd
One of the great directorial debuts. A bleak and lyrical vision of war's ravage, a child's rude awakening as a crestfallen figure in a desolate landscape. Each and every shot is a staggering and painterly composition. The juxtaposition of precious memory with harsh reality is a poetry that would become the arch theme of Tarkovsky's work.
Rated 18 Oct 2009
88
94th
Amazing. Never saw this coming. Picked this film out to watch a pretty much random and was at times blown away by it. Moody and dark, and well performed.
Rated 13 Oct 2011
70
65th
Wasn't that taken with it. Not to say that it isn't an extremely impressive debut, it's just that it failed to grip me for some reason.
Rated 08 Feb 2011
6
81st
I think everyone agrees that the cinematography here is amazing. It's true, it's a breathtaking and lyrical film from start to finish. It's really hard to pick a favorite shot (though I may have to go with the nightmarish sequence during the finale). Thematically, though, it's a bit simplistic, not to mention overly familiar. It's a spellbinding watch but never quite absorbing.
Rated 14 Dec 2022
90
93rd
Poetic parallels of human suffering and natural destruction. Humans burrowing under scorched earth while burnt, splintered trees reach toward the sky.
Rated 11 Aug 2008
95
94th
This is a great film because it has audacity. As a debut, it established Tarkovsky as a director who had guts and control. Telling a very unusual war tale, revolving around bunkers, is the first issue. But collaging with it unimaginably gorgeous cinematography is yet another! The "viciously realistic" acting is also evidence of a powerful director. A heartbreaking piece in the context of Tarkovsky's torn motherland.
Rated 17 Oct 2010
35
90th
"Even in this, his first feature, we see that Andrei Tarkovsky is compelled by memories of precious things." - Jeremiah Kipp
Rated 27 Jul 2008
96
89th
The plot is very disturbing, and the mood and directing is great! It has a very dark feel to it, and has very memorable scenes. While the story isn't that great, it really shows the emotion and is a great take of a orphan who's childhood was taken from him.
Rated 24 Jan 2010
70
77th
Evoked similar feelings and thoughts as when I watched Paths of Glory. Felt it was missing a piece of the jigsaw puzzle, that being emotion. Though I enjoyed it, I can't help but wonder what the film could have been.
Rated 08 Mar 2009
94
95th
The shots in this are nothing less than spectacular. Here there's a shot of just a forest that makes you feel disoriented and a shot of just a swamp that puts you on edge. The acting is very good, but the camera always lets you know more about how Ivan is feeling than anything the characters are doing. It's very sad and it's incredibly striking.
Rated 09 Feb 2009
80
76th
Insistingly lyrical and impressionistic, as optimistic and "triumphant" as it is sad and downhearted. The eloquent cinematography and careful use of mise-èn-scene convey a whole lot more than the dialogue - which is more sober and less (explicitly) philosophical than in his later works. Not as intrusively distressing as Idi i Smotri, but just as earnest in its portrayal of the war's relentless brutality. The film radiates vitality in all the gloom...
Rated 22 Jul 2017
65
37th
Very solid stuff. Burlyaev's performance is one of the best I've seen from a child. Tarkovsky's dream sequences and the lighting techniques he uses to divide them from reality are a highlight. Otherwise Ivan's Childhood didn't grab me too much on a personal level. With so many "horrors of war" films something either connects or it doesn't. I don't have any real complaints other than the nurse subplot being completely pointless other than to pad the run time. She gets the film's longest scene?
Rated 18 Jul 2022
45
38th
varoluşsal sancı çeken çocuk demek vay amk basın şunlara basın. her filme 90 verin
Rated 16 Mar 2024
81
65th
Tarkovsky’s sense of visual style here is almost unparalleled, especially for a debut – any random freeze frame produces a stunning composition. That tightly controlled sense of style and construction does lend the film an emotional rigidity, even as Burlyayev’s impressive victim of dehumanisation makes for a touching focal point. Falters at the finale, attempting a melodramatic catharsis that (by design) the film hasn’t really earned, but still an interesting and stimulating experience.
Rated 29 Sep 2019
85
94th
Watch this back-to-back with Come and See and try not to kill yourself.
Rated 14 Feb 2009
10
97th
Finally, a Tarkovsky film I found highly accessible, reminiscent of films like "Paths of Glory" or even "The Pianist". As opposed to "Solaris" and "Stalker", "Ivan's Childhood" actually gives the audience a chance to sympathise with the characters (especially Ivan, played wonderfully by Burlyaev). Each shot is beautifully constructed, the film is devastating and heartfelt, and its depiction of war may feel disturbing to some but invigorating to others. Recommended!
Rated 07 Aug 2013
64
22nd
A relatively unremarkable war film with its kid star acting, talking, and emoting nothing like a kid. It's got it's moments of greatness, boasts some exquisite B&W cinematography, and the second half is more impressive than the first, but it's still lacking.
Rated 05 Feb 2014
70
44th
Unusually good for a Soviet film. The murky, disjointed plot was often frustrating, but it has some of the most visually arresting scenes you'll ever see with its poetic black & white cinematography. Contains a surprising amount of Christian imagery considering it was made under communism. While it did not affect me much emotionally, it's easy to see hints of greatness here in Tarkovsky's first feature film.
Rated 19 Jan 2009
100
99th
Here, get it while you can: http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/5421/ivanschildhood1eu6.png That pic sums up a lot. This is a beautifully shot movie. Effective at being anti-war without actually showing the fighting. The story is told with fractured images and there are a lot of cool ideas like putting a coo-coo sound over the Mosfilms logo instead of heroic music. This is classic Tarkovsky. Not his best, but that's not an insult because he's a legend.
Rated 21 Aug 2018
70
75th
Amazingly shot and directed with a haunting score. The acting was fairly good with Nikolay Grinko as Ivan being the stand out. The story itself was decent but nothing great. I liked it but I felt that it started to drag in spots. I'll definitely watch it again eventually and I feel with a movie like this I might actually like it better on a second view.
Rated 04 Oct 2009
93
96th
ok so tarkovsky's debut feature is already a masterpiece. could've done without the epilogue, but other than that it's almost perfect. the kid who plays ivan is totally convincing.
Rated 19 Feb 2010
87
94th
Bleak, merciless and painful. Burlyayev's performance is amazing. Some wonderful shots make the viewing a dreamlike experience at times.
Rated 20 Feb 2014
7
92nd
tarkovsky's first feature shows that even then he was preoccupied with memory and providing a sort of fictional autobiography. i wasn't really getting into it at first, due to some weird scene choices (particularly those involving masha) but i watched the rest a couple of days later and suddenly the fantastical memory sequences and the dark, desolate cinematography representing a vengeful, desensitised boy got me to love the second half. sometimes a break can be good. great ironic ending.
Rated 11 Dec 2011
69
51st
a child who seems like an old man.
Rated 20 May 2019
90
96th
I could stare at some of these shots forever. Tarkovsky's composition is NUTS.
Rated 15 Apr 2024
98
95th
Rated 08 Jan 2017
75
88th
2. /c Prince Charles Cinema
Rated 19 May 2020
80
89th
The title should be read as 'Ivan's Lost Childhood'. An uneven film, but when it's good it is brilliant. Innocence lost, revenge sought. More could have been made of the Masha story. At this stage Tarkovsky is yet to find his own style - it is his debut after all - with some scenes very Wellesian in nature (almost like they could have been lifted from 'Kane'). The music for the most part did not sit well with the image presented on screen.
Rated 16 Feb 2012
88
91st
Brutal yet poetic, Tarkovsky's take on a simple story becomes more complex and emotionally powerful when filtered through his unique style. Burlyayev is amazing, especially for someone so young.
Rated 02 Sep 2021
75
72nd
Awesome craftsmanship.
Rated 02 Jan 2015
50
0th
Andrei Tarkovsky #1
Rated 25 Jul 2011
75
83rd
Beautiful and bleak. Great child acting and some stunning shots to boot.
Rated 15 Jan 2009
95
70th
like it , but not as much as the others Tarkovsky's gems.
Rated 18 Apr 2014
90
80th
A complete visual splendor with some unforgettable images. The scene in the forest, between the girl and the soldier, is my favorite. Otherwise, I feel like I need to watch this again to grasp its finer points.
Rated 02 Mar 2008
74
58th
# 519
Rated 26 Jun 2014
90
94th
Brilliant cinematography. I would take a film class just to analyze a film like this one. Powerful, Surreal, Heartbreaking and Beautiful. Don't miss it.
Rated 19 Jun 2011
92
96th
Rated 16 Dec 2019
68
66th
Capricórnio
Rated 13 Apr 2024
90
33rd
Rated 01 Apr 2010
85
57th
Tarkovsky's artistic debut. The film is stunning, as one would expect from dear Andrei, but it lacks much of the philosophy and artistry evident in his later films. Still, this is quite obviously Tarkovsky and being so it's beautiful to look at. Despite the comparative lack of depth, there's still a lot to this film and while the character's aren't all easy to relate to, the dynamics which occur between them are believable and human. Certainly a go for Tarkovsky fans.
Rated 18 Feb 2015
79
66th
With fine cinematography and a number of undoubtedly powerful dramatic scenes, Ivan's Childhood has some of the elements of a classic but seems to be marred by an uneven tone and pacing. One minute there is slowly building tension, the next, none. It seems more episodic than a war film needs to be. Maybe I was hoping for the narrative structure to be more accessible or clear, but... this is Tarkovsky we're talking about.
Rated 02 Dec 2015
70
56th
A fine piece of cinema, but the story and characters left me unimpressed.
Rated 11 Apr 2011
64
34th
Shocking story intensified by the dream sequences. I'm not impressed with the text and the acting though.
Rated 19 Dec 2008
73
46th
538
Rated 23 Nov 2007
80
90th
Most accessible Tarkovsky I've seen, and a great war film making heavier impression then many without actually showing any fighting.
Rated 09 Mar 2019
91
84th
90.50
Rated 08 Nov 2018
100
94th
https://78.media.tumblr.com/9dc64594f392538d511b2a2ab916a0ce/tumblr_mteoy35HV71rt3w9xo2_r1_400.gif
Rated 25 Mar 2024
50
72nd
Rated 16 Apr 2024
50
55th
Rated 17 Nov 2020
70
72nd
Man, Spy Kids franchise had such a promising start. Now, seriously. Pretty beautiful, poetic and sometimes just brilliantly practical in its full of flair visual solutions -- kiss scene over a trench, well fall, Goebbels dead family, tense boat ride --, to the point I kind of forget what actually it's going on and just keep waiting for the next perfect shot and shit. War as a series of broken dreamy memories (maybe made up, but who cares) and worn out men walking through ruins.
Rated 06 Aug 2021
75
59th
7??????????????????
Rated 30 Dec 2016
60
13th
Octubre? 2016 - Em va resultar força pesada. No acabava de saber per on anava (mig m'adormia, estava cansat). Hi ha imatges ben pensades. Però no acabo d'empatitzar amb ningú ni entendre gaire bé la situació.
Rated 30 Jun 2019
80
78th
A tough "ravages of war" movie to watch. We generally follow Ivan, a twelve year old kid who wants to avenge his murdered family. Much of the movie revolves around the soldiers who interact with Ivan, which does tend to limit the screen time of one of the few sympathetic characters. Still, the camerawork is excellent (even the dizzying forest scene), and showcases a remarkable directing talent to come.
Rated 29 Apr 2020
75
51st
Beautiful and sad
Rated 24 Nov 2021
90
94th
Tarkovsky's first feature shows the themes and methods with which he would later paint more sophisticated works. A continual theme seems to be how lost histories construct the present, how dreams, like water in a well, may be a reservoir containing in separation a representation of it that gets us to seek. This will later culminate in his masterwork 'The Mirror', where it is likewise this preverbal truth, perhaps a relation to the mother-object (Klein), is important.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
80
80th
Ivano detstovo: 9 // 7 // 8 // 8 // 10 // 10 // 8
Rated 14 Sep 2020
90
94th
14.09.2020 Ä°stanbul Kartal
Rated 07 Nov 2011
80
79th
Good shots, ok story, I didn't undestand all the time what was going on. But that ending is really haunting and gave me the chills
Rated 08 Aug 2008
85
77th
#802 - 08 Agustos 08, yonetmenin izledigim ilk filmi. 03:07 am. & etkileyici kamera kullanimi ve yonetmenlik. sinemada dogalligin onemini bu film ile anlayabilirsiniz. savasin karanlik bir tasviri. ama filmin fazla 'duz' ve sonlara dogru kor goze parmak halini aldigini dusunuyorum. ama ilk film olarak bunlar goz ardi edilebilir.
Rated 24 May 2009
82
92nd
Very Nice Movie
Rated 06 Nov 2022
80
68th
This is the one Tarkovsky film I had not seen. Perhaps not surprisingly, his debut feature feels a lot less like him than like his contemporaries. It's solidly in the camp of Eastern Bloc filmmakers forging a path out of the social realist quagmire of official Soviet cinema. Still, it feels like only Tarkovsky would end a film with a dream had by a dead character.
Rated 16 Jun 2009
65
65th
In Tarkovsky's first feature film, the cinematography is simply awesome. In fact, it's much better than the text and the acting, which are just satisfactory. Not as pretentious as his later works, but still very overrated.
Rated 15 Jan 2010
70
40th
591
Rated 26 Jun 2014
54
54th
While this would be rightly considered a very impressive work from any director (let alone a debut), it is noticeably less mature than Tarkovsky's subsequent work, and it didn't have quite the emotional impact I expected.
Rated 02 Sep 2015
75
74th
rewatch
Rated 20 Jun 2015
85
87th
Tarkovsky's debut exhibits its thoroughly effective anti-war sentiment without the need to even show any combat. The stunning photography and dream sequences superbly relay the horrors of war and loss of childhood innocence to the protagonist, played terrifically by young Nikolai Burlyayev, and the finale is simply devastating.
Rated 03 Jul 2022
79
67th
Tarkovsky was already well in command of his craft in his first movie. Nikolai Burlyayev gives a fantastic child performance. There are some great scenes and shots. I thought the ending felt severely rushed, though, the whole character and storyline of Masha seemed kind of pointless and tacked on, and the film seemed disjointed at times. Ending is incredibly done. Amazing for a first movie, very strong for a movie of any kind, but not as impressive as some of Tarkovsky's later works.
Rated 28 Dec 2018
80
57th
There is something very invasive about Nikolay's character that amplifies Tarkovsky's view on war and humanity. Some moments that become extremely disturbing, but don't deduct from the wonder in each shot.
Rated 14 Apr 2009
85
94th
Ivan the "child" in the war.
Rated 30 Nov 2011
70
40th
#597
Rated 10 Mar 2013
90
84th
Eerie and dreamlike, Ivan's Childhood resonates with its striking cinematography and strong performances, especially by Nikolai Burlyayev. The documentary footage in the film's third act is disturbing but apt.
Rated 29 Mar 2021
5
81st
Beautiful but also kind of maudlin. Still, some of the shots are pretty breathtaking.
Rated 14 Apr 2017
73
85th
kind of grimy and sublime!
Rated 02 Feb 2015
87
66th
I fell in Berlin front of the Soviet statue.

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