{{Short description |1985 book by Andrei Tarkovsky}} {{use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox book | name = Sculpting in Time | title_orig = Die Versiegelte Zeit | image = Sculpting in Time.jpg | caption = First edition (German) | author = Andrei Tarkovsky | country = | language = | genre = Film theory | publisher = University of Texas Press | release_date = 1985 | media_type = | pages = | isbn = 0-292-77624-1 | oclc= 31736519 | preceded_by = | followed_by = }} '''''Sculpting in Time''''' (Russian: ''Запечатлённое время'', {{lit.}} ''Captured Time'') is a film theory book by Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky about art and cinema in general, particularly his own films. It was originally published in German in 1985, then Italian in 1986, and English in 1987.<ref>[https://www.pastemagazine.com/books/sculpting-in-time-by-andrey-tarkovsky/ Paste Magazine]</ref> The title refers to the name he gave his own style of filmmaking.
== Synopsis == The book's main statement about the nature of cinema is summarized in its claim that "the dominant, all-powerful factor of the film image is rhythm, expressing the course of time within the frame". It contains a great deal of poetry written by Tarkovsky's father Arseny and some of Tarkovsky's personal writings on his own life and work, as well as lectures and discussions Tarkovsky had with film history student Olga Surkova during the making of his film ''Andrei Rublev''. Surkova later became a professional critic and assisted Tarkovsky with writing ''Sculpting in Time'', for which he cited her as an inspiration.<ref name="tarkovin" /> The book has commentary on each of Tarkovsky's seven major feature films and his complex relationship with the Soviet Union. The final chapter, a discussion of his film ''The Sacrifice'', was written during the last weeks of his life.
== Background == Tarkovsky wrote ''Sculpting in Time'' partially to explain and give insight on the nature of his films, which often puzzled audiences. In the book's introduction, he cites many letters he received throughout his career, both of praise and discouragement; the letters, whether positive or negative, all seemed to agree that viewers did not understand what was happening in his films.<ref name="tarkovin">{{cite book |last1=Tarkovsky |first1=Andrei |title=Sculpting in Time |date=1986 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=978-0-292-77624-1 |pages=7–14}}</ref> The book, as Tarkovsky explained, was a response to the questions of an audience willing to open a dialogue with him.<ref name="tarkovin" />
== Reception == Critical reception for ''Sculpting in Time'' was positive, with the ''Slavic Review'' praising its translation, content, and layout.<ref name="Nollan">{{cite journal|last1=Nollan|first1=Valerie Z.|date=1989|title=Sculpting in Time: Reflections on the Cinema. Andrey Tarkovsky Kitty Hunter-Blair.|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/slavic-review/article/sculpting-in-time-reflections-on-the-cinema-by-andrey-tarkovsky-translated-by-kitty-hunterblair-new-york-alfred-a-knopf-1987-254-pp-photographs-stills-2295-cloth/416EDFC24371A9024D35D828D02A1FF2|journal=Slavic Review|volume=48|issue=2|page=348|doi=10.2307/2499169|jstor=2499169|access-date=March 3, 2019|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Eric David called it "one of the greatest books on filmmaking written by a director".<ref name="David">{{cite journal |last1=David |first1=Eric |title='Sculpting Time': Russian Filmmaker Sought to Harrow the Soul. |journal=Christianity Today |date=2007 |issue=9 |page=102 |url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.168547191&site=eds-live. |access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref> Writing for ''The Sunday Times'', film scholar Ian Christie acknowledged that the book accomplished Tarkovsky's goals of giving insight into his creative process and explaining the logic behind his films.<ref name="IanSun">{{cite journal |last1=Christie |first1=Ian |title=Books: Capturing Time's Imprint; Review of 'Sculpting In Time' by Andrey Tarkovsky. |journal=Sunday Times |date=1986 |url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.118004706&site=eds-live. |access-date=3 March 2019}}</ref>
== Further reading == *{{cite news |date=July 19, 1987 |first=Harlow |last=Robinson |author-link=Harlow Robinson |title=Sculpting in Time: REFLECTIONS ON THE CINEMA by Andrey Tarkovsky |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-19-bk-4756-story.html}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Andrei Tarkovsky}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sculpting In Time}} Category:1985 non-fiction books Category:Books of film theory Category:Books by Andrei Tarkovsky Category:Works about Andrei Tarkovsky