I agree, that even for a short story, it was nothing spectacular but where I felt it shined was in the atmospheric feeling, which at the time was something different for the fantasy genre.
It had wide shots of countryside that were almost like live paintings.
In the forward on YouTube, Roger Christian says that John Boorman was inspired by this for Excalibur and it completely shows. From the dreamy landscapes, to the diffused lighting, to the pacing of the film, to the music and sound, and the woman vocalizing.
After watching it once, if I watch it again, it definitely wouldn't be for the story but for the cinematic presentation of the fantasy genre. Even after all these years, it's clear how it inspired the appearance and look of other fantasy movies.
...For every man who has ever lived, in this universe, there shines a star.
-Arthur C. Clarke
Atmosphere only works if you know how to sustain it. Tarkovsky this man is not. This felt like a student project shot by a great DP.
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