tarkovsky is my favorite director of all time! you must see "the mirror", it's absolutely beautiful.

interesting thing about tarkovsky: he was meticulous nearly to the point of insane about setting up his shots and getting everything just the way he wanted- he would even spray-paint leaves on bushes if he didn't think their natural color was exactly how he wanted it.

also, he directed 10 films in russia before defecting to the west (after nostalgia)