In a question and answer session at the Edinburgh Filmhouse on 11 February 1981, Tarkovsky trenchantly rejected suggestions that the film was either impenetrably mysterious or a political allegory.
ɪn ɐ kwˈɛstʃən ænd ˈænsɚ sˈɛʃən æt ðɪ ˈɛdɪnbʌɹə fˈɪlmhaʊs ˌɔn ɪlˈɛvən fˈɛbɹuːˌɛɹi nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn, tɑːɹkˈɑːvski tɹˈɛntʃəntli ɹᵻdʒˈɛktᵻd sədʒˈɛstʃənz ðætðə fˈɪlm wʌz ˈiːðɚɹ ɪmpˈɛnɪtɹəbli mɪstˈɪɹiəs ɔːɹ ɐ pəlˈɪɾɪkəl ˈælɪɡɚɹi.