Editing Andrei Tarkovsky (section)

===Film career outside the Soviet Union===
During the summer of 1979, Tarkovsky traveled to Italy, where he shot the documentary ''[[Voyage in Time]]'' together with his long-time friend [[Tonino Guerra]]. Tarkovsky returned to Italy in 1980 for an extended trip, during which he and Guerra completed the script for the film ''[[Nostalghia]]''. During this period, he took Polaroid photographs depicting his personal life.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/andrei-tarkovsky-filmmaker-polaroid-diary/ |title=Filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky's sublime polaroid diary offers a personal glimpse into his cinematic vision |last=Thomas-Mason |first=Lee |access-date=13 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

Tarkovsky returned to Italy in 1982 to start shooting ''Nostalghia'', but [[Mosfilm]] then withdrew from the project, so he sought and received financial backing from the Italian [[RAI]]. Tarkovsky completed the film in 1983, and it was presented at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] where it won the [[International Federation of Film Critics|FIPRESCI prize]] and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. Tarkovsky also shared a special prize called ''Grand Prix du cinéma de création'' with [[Robert Bresson]]. Soviet authorities lobbied to prevent the film from winning the [[Palme d'Or]],<ref name=Wagstaff2004>{{cite book |last=Wagstaff |first=Peter |title=Border crossings: mapping identities in modern Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jFKGgLAQ8mMC&pg=PA169 |year=2004 |publisher=Peter Lang |isbn=978-3-03910-279-2 |page=169}}</ref> a fact that hardened Tarkovsky's resolve to never work in the Soviet Union again. After Cannes he went to London to stage and choreograph the opera ''[[Boris Godunov (opera)|Boris Godunov]]'' at the [[Royal Opera House]] under the musical direction of [[Claudio Abbado]].

[[File:Andrej Tarkovskij mug shot at Latina Refugee Camp 1985.jpg|thumb|right|Mug shot of Andrei Tarkovsky at the Latina Refugee Camp of [[Latina, Lazio|Latina]] (Italy) in 1985]]
At a press conference in [[Milan]] on 10 July 1984, he announced that he would never return to the Soviet Union and would remain in Western Europe. He stated, "I am not a Soviet dissident, I have no conflict with the Soviet Government," but if he returned home, he added, "I would be unemployed."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/30/obituaries/andrei-tarkovsky-director-and-soviet-emigre-dies-at-54.html |title=Andrei Tarkovsky, Director and Soviet Emigre, Dies at 54|last=Goodman |first=Walter |work=The New York Times|date=20 December 1986|page=B8|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> At that time, his son Andriosha was still in the Soviet Union and not allowed to leave the country. On 28 August 1985, Tarkovsky was processed as a Soviet Defector at a refugee camp in [[Latina, Lazio|Latina]], Italy, registered with the serial number 13225/379, and officially welcomed to the West.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alberto |last=Custodero |title=Latina, quei profughi dell'Est dimenticati. E spunta la scheda di Tarkovskij |journal=La Repubblica |date=10 December 2015 |url=http://www.repubblica.it/cultura/2015/12/10/news/latina_profughi_est_rivoluzione_ungherese_commemorazione_documentario_emanuela_gasbarroni_andrej_tarkovskij-129035264/ |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Campo profughi a Latina, la scheda ritrovata di Tarkovskij. Documenti, foto e testimonianze |journal=La Repubblica |date=8 December 2015 |url=http://www.repubblica.it/cultura/2015/12/08/foto/campo_profughi_latina_documenti_foto_e_testimonianze-129059106/1/?ref=nrct-1#1 |language=it}}</ref>

Tarkovsky spent most of 1984 preparing the film ''[[The Sacrifice (1986 film)|The Sacrifice]]''. It was finally shot in 1985 in Sweden, with many of the crew being alumni from [[Ingmar Bergman]]'s films, including cinematographer [[Sven Nykvist]]. Tarkovsky's vision of his film was greatly influenced by Bergman's style.

While ''The Sacrifice'' is about an apocalypse and impending death, faith, and possible redemption, in the making-of documentary ''Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky'', in a particularly poignant scene, writer/director [[Michal Leszczylowski]] follows Tarkovsky on a walk as he expresses his sentiments on death—he claims himself to be immortal and has no fear of dying. Ironically, at the end of the year Tarkovsky was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. In January 1986, he began treatment in Paris and was joined there by his son, Andre Jr, who was finally allowed to leave the Soviet Union. What would be Tarkovsky's final film was dedicated to him.

''The Sacrifice'' was presented at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] and received the [[Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)|Grand Prix Spécial du Jury]], the [[International Federation of Film Critics|FIPRESCI prize]] and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. As Tarkovsky was unable to attend due to his illness, the prizes were collected by his son.