Drama from Russian film-maker Andrei Tarkovsky. In the Tuscan hills, Russian poet Andrei Gorchakov (Oleg Yankovsky) is researching the life of an 18th century composer when he meets a mysterious man named Domenico (Erland Josephson) who is convinced that the end of the world is nigh. Once Domenico leaves the village he asks Andrei to cross an ancient mineral pool carrying his lighted candle as an act of faith.