The first film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (whose later works include Andrei Rublev, Solaris, and The Mirror) is a poetic and sad story of a boy caught up in World War II. Avoiding all the cliches of the genre, My Name Is Ivan reveals for the first time Tarkovsky's interest (not to mention his mastery) in incorporating surrealistic elements into his poetic universe. In this film, the camera style moves from terrifying realism to lyrical impressionism. Don't be put off by the war setting. It's a genuine Tarkovsky masterpiece.