Kaidanovsky quoting Tarkovsky from the set of Stalker:
I don’t need your psychology, your expressiveness…. The actor is part of the composition, like the tree, like water. (A Visual Fugue, 45)
Alexander Knyazhinsky, on Stalker, confirmed both the thoroughness with which Tarkovsky prepared the visiual side of the film, often taking two days to st up a particularly complicated and lengthy shot before filming it on the third day, and also the fact that no deviation was permitted once filming began. One consequence of this careful preparation was that he rarely needed, in any of his films, more than one or two takes for any shot. In Nykvist’s case Tarkovsky suggested that they should spend a full year together discussing how to make the film … (49)
Lars Iyer's Blog 
Hadn’t heard that quote. What a great one, though. Andrei Tarkovsky is the singular most inspiring filmmaker I have ever come across (said as I sit here preparing to watch his film, The Mirror). Stalker and Nostalghia are the most intensely emotional and satisfying cinematic experiences I have ever had, bar none.
This quote sounds like something Robert Bresson would say, concerning the placement of actors almost as props, and although I am a fan of both directors, I’d have to say I’m more inspired by Tarkovsky’s use of lush visuals than Bresson’s particular style, which can strike me as wooden sometimes. I guess it makes sense that Bresson’s Diary of a Country Priest was Tarkovsky’s favorite film of all time.
Au Hasard Balthasar is certainly enough of a great film to singlehandedly raise Bresson to the pantheon of the greats.
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There’s still a lot of Bresson I haven’t seen – how frustrating! Must write on Balthazar – I’ve been meaning to, actually. There’s some material on Tarkovsky over at In Writing, too (see links).
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