The Sacrifice
- IMDb link: 0091670
- IMDb rating: 7.8 (34,972 votes)
- Genres: Drama
- Director: Andrei Tarkovsky, Allan Edwall
- Cast: Erland Josephson, Gudrun Gisladottir, Susan Fleetwood and others
- Release date: 9 May 1986
- Release year: 1986
- Runtime: 149 minutes
- Country: Sweden, France, United Kingdom
- Keywords: long take, arson, slow cinema, spirituality, witchcraft, religion, apocalypse, insanity, father son relationship, disillusionment
Plot:
It is Alexander's birthday, and his family have gathered at his remote cottage to celebrate. The celebrations are marred, however, first by conventional family intrigue, then by the terrifying news that the low-flying jet planes signalled the start of a nuclear war between the superpowers. As the family attempts to cope, Alexander is troubled by extraordinary dreams, and then informed by the unfathomable philosopher-postman, Otto, that he has the power to redeem the world, including his dear young son, if only he will visit the solitary Maria, who Otto insists is a witch.