Screenplay: "Hoffmanniana" (orig. Russian: "Hofmanana"), based on the life and work of the German writer and poet
E.T.A. Hoffmann. Begun as a commission from Tallinnfilm (Estonia) to write a screenplay on a German theme, and after considering Thomas Mann and Ibsen's Peer Gynt, he signed a contract for a script about Hoffmann. Planning to write it during Summer 1974 at his dacha never materialized by the deadline due to writing difficulties, he finally finished it in October 1974. Although the script was well received by the officials at Tallinnfilm, it was the consensus that no one but Tarkovsky would be able to direct it, and he was not interested. In February 1976 the script was sent to Goskino, and although approval was granted to proceed making the film, it was never realized. The screenplay was however published that year, in case anyone was interested in directing it. In 1984 Tarkovsky revisited the screenplay and made a few changes; he had finally considered to direct it himself, but still ultimately dropped this idea to begin work on 'The Sacrifice' instead.
