The screenplay is based on Tarkovsky's year in the taiga as a member of a research expedition, prior to his enrollment in film school.
ðə skɹˈiːnpleɪ ɪz bˈeɪst ˌɔn tɑːɹkˈɑːvskiz jˈɪɹ ɪnðə tˈeɪɡə æz ɐ mˈɛmbɚɹ əvɚ ɹᵻsˈɜːtʃ ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən, pɹˈaɪɚ tə hɪz ɛnɹˈoʊlmənt ɪn fˈɪlm skˈuːl.