­$2 million Tarkovsky archive to return to Russia

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Published time: December 30, 2012 11:07
Edited time: December 30, 2012 23:07

A unique archive of personal letters, photographs and audio recordings relating to Russian cinema icon Andrey Tarkovsky, that was auctioned at Sotheby’s in London for over $2 million, will be returned to Russia next month.

The collection of the director’s memorabilia, including a letter he wrote to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev was purchased by the administration of Ivanovskaya Region in Central Russia, where the filmmaker was born.

According to local authorities the archive will return to Russia in January 2013.

“Thanks to the efforts of the patrons of art, a part of Russian historical heritage is coming back home, everyone should be proud of it,” a local official told Ria Novosti news agency.

The archive will be transferred to Tarkovsky’s estate museum in his home town of Yurievets, where the filmmaker spent part of his childhood.

The archive was put up for sale by Tarkovsky’s student and friend , cinema historian Olga Sokurova.