MovieChat Forums > Andrey Rublyov Discussion > Religious imagery in the "Jester" scene?

Religious imagery in the "Jester" scene?

posted 8 years ago by HuddsOn
2 replies | jump to latest

In the scene where the Jester (or Buffoon) is arrested, do you think it is supposed to be reminiscent of the story of the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus? We see him first take off his cloak (robe?), proceed towards the door semi-naked, just before passing through the doorway he briefly stretches his arms out into a rigid T-shape as if in imitation of someone being crucified, and then the armed men subdue him by flinging him violently against a tree (representing the Cross?).

"People don't go to the movies to be depressed - that's what the theatre's for!"

[–] raimund-berger 8 years ago

Vaguely, maybe.

He's also subject to treason. And he mocks authorities, just like Jesus did. But other details don't seem to fit in that well. Like that instrument of his that they smash. And his personality in general, which appears to be rather secular.

A broad allusion is the most I can see. As it happens every so often in Tarkovsky films.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 8 years ago

do you think it is supposed to be reminiscent of the story of the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus?

No. One of the monks quips that God created a priest and Satan a Skormorokh, which is what was the arrested man. There might be some subversion with the religious imagery in the scene and my sense is that the viewer's feelings are allied to the jester.

I'm scared of the middle place between light and nowhere