When asked what he thought of 1968’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Andrei Tarkovsky dismissed the film as “cold and sterile.” He set out to make an “anti-2001,” which would become 1972’s epic “Solaris,” a Cannes Grand Jury Prize-winning masterpiece. This is not to say that Stanley Kubrick‘s film is not a masterpiece; in fact, the two films are undoubtedly related whether or not Tarkovsky was willing to admit it. Both feature relaxed narratives and paramount art direction that speak volumes, and thus remain two of the greatest films ever made about space to this day.
READ MORE: 5-Minute Supercut Pays Tribute To The Genius Of Stanley Kubrick
In this new mashup, Vugar Efendi places the work of both directors side-by-side, with shots from “Barry Lyndon” and “Eyes Wide Shut” juxtaposing “Ivan’s Childhood” and “Andrei Rublev.” Despite differences in opinions of each other, Kubrick and Tarkovsky are succinct, martyred geniuses of their time. Their devotion to craft remains unparalleled, from long-take aesthetics to the meticulous production design. Both share philosophical undertones of satire and depression and speak an idiosyncratic language through their characters and sets.
Efendi includes shots from both director’s oeuvres; see if you can catch them all in this delicate, moving piece.