The film The Steamroller and the Violin, which Tarkovsky directed as his graduation project, was to play a decisive role in his life. It was shot at the Mosfilm studios—which in those days amounted to an acknowledgment of talent—and it opened the door to the big screen for Andrei. Now, with all the experience gathered over the years, Tarkovsky's character, his exceptional talent, his search for his own path in art stand out with remarkable clarity. This search took the form of tentative probing, of pursuing an inner voice that was at first misunderstood and perhaps not even sensed by him. Deep within, he knew which road he had to take; all that remained was to recognise it, step by step. And that recognition was not long in coming. On this path, Tarkovsky needed a very good—perhaps the very best—cinematographer. At least, that was what he believed. The Institute of Cinematographic Arts