Transgression and desire in Tarkovsky’s cinema

The article explores the complex intersections of sexuality, censorship and provocative imagery in the films of Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky. Focusing on Tarkovsky’s controversial representations of female characters and corporeality, the study examines the director’s treatment of sexuality as a ‘guilty pleasure’–moments of subdued erotic tension embedded within his otherwise spiritual and philosophical cinema. Additionally, it highlights Tarkovsky’s contentious relationships with his stepdaughter and the censors, and how these personal and institutional conflicts influenced his approach to depicting gender and desire on screen. Drawing on examples from Solaris, Andrei Rublev and Mirror, the article interrogates the aesthetic and ethical boundaries Tarkovsky navigated, juxtaposing Soviet moral standards with his fascination for transgressive themes inspired by Western works like Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. Through these films, Tarkovsky confronts his own ambiguities towards desire and guilt, leaving a legacy of layered cinematic experiences that challenge the viewer’s perception of morality and artistry.