After the death of a doctor and continuing mental problems with the cosmonauts (Russian astronauts), psychologist Kris Kelvin is sent to investigate at the space station orbiting the planet Solaris. Kris Kelvin soon discovers that the water on the planet Solaris brings out repressed obsessions and memories.
Solaris, by Andrei Tarkovsky, is politically and socially conservative. There are no outstanding political opinions throughout the movie. As far as gender roles, women seem to have a very little role other than taking care of children and the home. The film is very engaging and the plot is easy to follow. Overall I would conclude that Solaris is a conventional film. Solaris, while expensive and conventional was able to make back it’s budget and then some. Due to Andrei Tarkovsky’s outstanding reputation, the success and popularity of the film were not surprising.
The budget for Solaris was 1,000,000 soviet rubles which translate to $829,000 in US dollars during 1972. Despite it being released to only five theatres Solaris sold over 10.5 million tickets. Eventually, due to the popularity Solaris gained, it was given cult status by the USSR. Although Solaris was adored by many it was not favorable to the author of the original book, Stanislaw Lem. Lem claimed that Tarkovsky’s version of his book was not close enough to his original story. Tarkovsky wanted Solaris to be based on, yet artistically independent, of the original book. In William Carroll’s article Why Solaris Is The Greatest Science Fiction Film Ever Made he claims that “Tarkovsky here melds gorgeous, stark visuals with a meditative commentary on our place in the universe without missing a beat.”
The film’s use of technology was quite unique. In most movies that are set in a more technological or futuristic world, technology is usually pristine and shiny. It is as if the directors were attempting to convince the audience that such a world is more appealing than the one humans currently reside in. However, according to Auteur in Space, Tarkovsky wanted the space station to look like a broken-down bus rather than a futuristic space utopia. I believe this is because Tarkovsky wanted to focus on the humanity of the story and what part of life is pristine and perfect? I also believe he wanted to show the downfalls of space and the pursuit of knowledge. Knowledge must be obtained morally or it should not be obtained at all.
While talking about Tarkovsky, Auteur in Space claims “He [Tarkovsky] will be occupied with the elemental things of earth which will be a theme throughout the film. Most of all he will question the limits of science and engage in the mysteries of existence. In doing so he will pit science against fiction each with their own weight and history in pursuit of truth and knowledge.” This overall summary of Trakovsky’s intentions in Solaris sends shivers down my spine with it’s short and simple accuracy. The power that these words have, especially when putting science against fiction, has an intensity that raises the hair on arms. The majority of the opening 20 minutes of this film is focused on nature and life on earth. The scenes where Kelvin is traveling to space is rather short, unlike many science fiction films that want to glorify the space travel.
William Carroll’s article focuses more on the aspect of humanity, relationships, and how Tarkovsky had us perceive and question them. Carroll states that “Tarkovsky extends this idea to all our relationships, past and present, and asks us whether they really exist at all. Do we love the people around us, or simply how we perceive them? Is it the idea of them that sustains them, gives them life? How much do we really know about someone, save for our own mental coloring of their character?”
While Carroll’s article claims that Tarkovsky focuses more on humanity, Auteur in Space claims that Tarkovsky leans towards nature aspect. I believe that Tarkovsky focuses on, in the simplest way to put it, life. Humanity and nature are just two aspects of life. Tarkovsky focuses on relationships, humanity, emotion, nature, and so much more. Solaris challenges our ideas about life and our place in it. This film brings to light our greatest fears and our most unanswered questions. Is life what we believe it is? Is everything a simulation? What is real and what is not? All these questions, as of right now, cannot be answered.
This film has made me question how the very foundation of life and existence works. Solaris is a fantastic film that has all of my questions about life put into two and a half hours.
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I had no idea that this movie is an adaption of a novel. It’s an interesting topic of humanity, and I liked how you decrypted your sources. William Carrol’s article seems to focus on the side of the film that deals with the relationships of the people and if they even exist at all. Most people think that science fiction movies are all about the special effects and exploring space travel, but this movie has deeper elements in it.