An exhibition of photographs by Sergei Bessmertny, The Two Births of Stalker open in the hall for temporary exhibitions at the Film Museum, is dedicated to Andrei Tarkovsky and his film, Stalker.

Stalker (1979), directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, follows the journey of three characters to a mysterious space in the Zone. Reflecting metaphysical ideas about religion and science, the film expresses a longing for a better world. The thoughts and journey of the characters are closely intertwined with the post-apocalyptic environment of the story.

The Zone was filmed without significant special effects mainly in natural environments in Tallinn and a nearby dilapidated power plant on the Jägala River in the summer of 1977 and 1978.

Sergei Bessmertny worked as a camera technician on Stalker and participated in the making of the film on a daily basis. This is the first time that his photographs have reached the exhibition hall. The exhibition The Two Births of Stalker documents the everyday life of making a film and recalls the apocalyptic locations in the centre of Tallinn and around the city in the 1970s, which have now disappeared.

The story of the birth of Stalker can be considered one of the most difficult in film history. Stalker’ is cursed,” said Andrei Tarkovsky in his memoirs. The exhibition also reveals the contradictory story of the film’s completion and its director’s uncompromising creative method.

This year marks 45 years since the beginning of the filming of Stalker and 90 years since the birth of Andrei Tarkovsky on 4 April.

The exhibition is accompanied by a film programme of Tarkovsky’s works in the Cinema Library of the Film Museum.

Curator: Karlo Funk
Concept for the exhibition and co-producer: Artur Veeber
Graphic design and spatial solution: Unt/Tammik Design Studio

The screening of the film programme organised by Mosfilm and MTÜ Otaku.
Estonian editing: Hille Saluäär