http://www.openculture.com/2010/07/tarkovksy.html

Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986) firmly positioned himself as the finest Soviet director of the post-War period.

Ingmar Bergman went so far as to say, “Tarkovsky for me is the greatest [director], the one who invented a new language, true to the nature of film, as it captures life as a reflection, life as a dream.”

And Akira Kurosawa acknowledged his influence too, adding, “I love all of Tarkovsky’s films. I love his personality and all his works. Every cut from his films is a marvelous image in itself.”