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Solaris (Russian title in Cyrillic lettering: Солярис--literal English translation: "Solyaris") is a 1972 Russian film and is also a 2002 United States film. Both films are based on the novel Solaris by Polish author Stanislaw Lem.
Tarkovsky's 1972 version
The 1972 Russian film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, features scenes filmed in Japan and the Soviet Union by cinematographer Vadim Yusov. It has achieved a measure of cult film status. Stylistically it has similarities with Tarkovsky's Zerkalo (Mirror) and Stalker films - particularly using the symbolism of water, and nature. Tarkovsky's Solaris is at heart about relationships between humans and the relationship between humans and the Divine.
The introduction to Solaris is very long and slow, and has nothing of the drama and pace it gains later. It begins with Kris Kelvin visiting his parents' dacha knowing that he may well not return while they are still alive. There are many shots of nature, and in particular the lake by the house, which re-emerge later in various sequences. (Solaris is an ocean world, and there are some echoes of it in the home lake). Later Kelvin watches the science academy's report of the bizarre occurrences on the Solaris station, in particular the testimony of Berton, which is totally disbelieved by the other scientists. We see Berton later on, in a long sequence, involving busy car traffic in Japan. Many people feel this sequence to be too long, and appearing early on in the film alienates some viewers. On direct question from the Soviet censor overseeing the production, Tarkovsky said he made this sequence boring on purpose: "so that the idiots leave before the actual movie starts". Stanislaw Lem, the novelist, disliked the film precisely because of the director's snobbery.
Proceeding to the station, Kelvin finds himself surrounded by refuse, and a bizarre child who he glimpses for a mere moment. This is one of the 'visitors' who Kelvin will see a lot more of. On further investigation, he finds that one of the crew members has committed suicide, and that another is probably insane. Kelvin himself receives a visitor, a long lost lover of his from the past, whom he tries, and fails to kill. The longer she lives, the more of an independent being she becomes, and not a mere figment of his memory.
One of the unforgettable parts of Solaris is an adaptation of Bach's chorale prelude, "Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ", BWV 639, which is heard four times throughout the movie. (In general, Tarkovsky seems to have been quite fond of Bach, as his later film, The Sacrifice features the similarly haunting aria "Erbarme dich, Mein Gott" from Saint Matthew's Passion.)
The film also features the well-known Russian actor, Anatoli Solonitsyn in a supporting role, who was actually discovered by Tarkovsky.
Solaris and 2001
Solaris is often cited as a Russian answer to 2001: A Space Odyssey, but this is actually untrue, since Tarkovsky had not seen 2001 before he made the film, and after he had he himself referred to it as "cold and sterile".
While both Solaris and 2001 deal intensely with the relationships between humans and machines and the transformation of humanity due to these relationships, in Solaris the 'machines' are actually projections of the subconscious mind, making it perhaps more akin to Forbidden Planet except that in Forbidden Planet the projections are always monsters. It can also be argued that there is no direct parallel to 2001's Hal in Solaris.
Additionally, some film guides such as Time Out have falsely claimed it to be a socialist answer to 2001, but this is demonstrably not so, since the film's uncertainty about life and the future is in direct conflict with the Marxist idea of a mechanistic theory of history and humanity, and the Soviet government's prognostications.
- See also: Cinema of Russia
Soderbergh's 2002 version
A second adaptation of Lem's novel by US director Steven Soderbergh was released in 2002. Kris Kelvin is played by George Clooney, Harey (Rheya in English version) by Natasha McElhone. Scored by Cliff Martinez. This version of Solaris is a slow, meditative psychodrama set on a space station. The movie's trailer depicted a science fiction love story and may have raised expectations among potential filmgoers that were not met, so many viewers reportedly left confused and disappointed by the film. In addition the burden of being compared to the highly regarded 1972 adaptation, made it difficult to get positive critical appraisal. Nevertheless it did receive a share of positive reviews.
This version owes a great debt to Tarkovsky's, since although it was feted as being "re-imagined" by the director, Clooney and McElhone bear distinct facial resemblences to Donatas Banionis and Natalya Bondarchuk who played the original roles. In fact, this film appears to be influenced by both Lem's novel, and Tarkovsky's film.
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