On December 29, 1986 at the age of 54, Andrei Tarkovsky, a renowned Russian film director, passed away. Tarkovsky is considered to be one of the most influential film directors in the history of and source of inspiration for contemporary directors. He gained international recognition for his distinct style of filmmaking, with its sluggish, dreamlike scenes and moments of great drama and emotion. Tarkovsky was born in the city of Moscow, Soviet Union in 1932. He studied Russian literature and was a theatre actor as a teenager. In 1959, he graduated from the State Institute of Cinematography and directed his first feature-length film, Ivan’s Childhood. He continued to write and direct feature films into the 80s, including Solaris, Nostalghia, and Stalker. Tarkovsky was known for his commitment to making spiritually and intellectually demanding films and was even awarded with the Prix FIPRESCI in 1982 and 1983. Today, Tarkovsky’s legacy lives on in the works he left behind, which are studies of poetry, contemplation, and the struggle of emotion and nature of memory. For many film fans, his death is a great loss. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.