Solaris got me

Posted by Victor Khomenko (M) on June 16, 2010 at 13:28:29

For some reason that movie always has strong emotional impact on you - I am of course talking about the 1972 Russian movie.

I still remember how we were expecting it, all of us having read and loved the novel. At the time we didn't know Tarkovsky from Trotsky, and we concentrated on simple and naive, sometimes plain silly (oscilloscopes lying on their sides, with a beam going up, and up... and up again... analog voltmeter wrapped in plastic in Kris' cabin's shelf...) "futuristic" interiors and the technical side.

With later viewings the movie took upon a totally different meaning, it matured with us. Changed our focal points, our understanding of some subtle hints and undercurrents... what has not changed was the effect it kept having on us... well, maybe it is presumptuous to mix "us" and "me", but I know I speak for some her too.

When I saw it again a couple of days ago, it was like a new film. Several years passed, enough to erase the memories of some scenes, some dialogues, and enough to turn it into a new discovery. A wonderful new discovery.

This truly is one of the most under-rated, yet timeless, films with more depth than you can possibly cover in just a couple of viewings. I am not going to bother with speaking much of performances - they are all top notch, but Natalia Bondarchuk truly shines. Virtually unknown as actress, even though she comes from a very important cinema family, she does marvelous job.

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Topic - Solaris got me - Victor Khomenko 13:28:29 06/16/10 (26)

RE: Solaris got me - Rod H. 14:47:47 06/17/10 (0)

Read the story when it came out, seen both movies. - late 18:06:27 06/16/10 (23)

Actually Solaris (the original) is timeless in what it speaks to and asks. - Tony D. 08:56:57 06/20/10 (1)

Not really - late 08:17:35 06/22/10 (0)

Name a few of those efforts, please........... - afilado 18:21:48 06/16/10 (20)

Oh boy - late 10:27:18 06/18/10 (18)

RE: Oh boy - afilado 14:06:26 06/18/10 (2)

"Shaka, when the walls fell" * - Tony D. 09:04:45 06/20/10 (1)

Temba, his arms wide ..nt - late 06:28:22 06/21/10 (0)

Sorry to give you that news... the film is NOT about dealing with alien culture - Victor Khomenko 11:30:27 06/18/10 (14)

True, Tversky's Snorlaris is about a non-habit forming alternative to Sominex. (nt) - Audiophilander 00:11:13 06/19/10 (2)

Snorlaris, love it.. (nt) - late 12:56:43 06/19/10 (0)

RE: LOL ! Does the same to me.....(nt) - Jeff Starrs 00:29:43 06/19/10 (0)

Lots to feel sorry about - late 18:12:09 06/18/10 (10)

RE: Lots to feel sorry about - Fretless 19:31:30 06/18/10 (9)

Interesting, but... - late 20:20:32 06/18/10 (8)

Lost in Internet space? - Victor Khomenko 06:12:47 06/22/10 (7)

LOL - late 07:42:01 06/22/10 (6)

"It was based on a book, and the book was Russian scifi" Need I say more? - Victor Khomenko 08:45:40 06/22/10 (5)

Yeah, you need to say more. - late 08:46:42 06/22/10 (4)

Don't worry, someone will give you a hint! - Victor Khomenko 10:36:32 06/22/10 (3)

But it won't be you, you don't have one ..nt - late 11:13:54 06/22/10 (2)

You do realize - sjb 16:39:34 06/24/10 (1)

Nope - late 09:26:28 06/25/10 (0)

Me, too. It's ridiculous to, out of hand, dismiss a science fiction for its plot, alone. After all, - tinear 18:38:15 06/16/10 (0)

Most of Tarkovsky's films are masterworks. He belongs on any short list - tinear 17:05:35 06/16/10 (0)

Solaris got me

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