I would put Tarkovsky up there with Kubrik fighting for the title of “greatest director of the 20th Century,”
Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986) firmly positioned himself as the finest Soviet director of the post-War period. But his influence extended well beyond the Soviet Union. The Cahiers du cinéma consistently ranked his films on their top ten annual lists. Ingmar Bergman went so far as to say, “Tarkovsky for me is the greatest [director], the one who invented a new language, true to the nature of film, as it captures life as a reflection, life as a dream.” And Akira Kurosawa acknowledged his influence too, adding, “I love all of Tarkovsky’s films. I love his personality and all his works. Every cut from his films is a marvelous image in itself.”
Of course Bergman and Kurusawa, along with several significant others, belong up there too. But Kubrik represents the best American cinema could produce, as does Tarkovksy for the Soviets. So how about an epic rap battle between the two at least. And watch some of these films!
(hat tip Phillip Turek) (and so let us not forget Milos Forman as well!)
http://www.openculture.com/2010/07/tarkovksy.html