Stanislaw Lem

[CS Johnson]

Vladimir, you're a veritable shining star in the SF firmament! I could almost kiss you (but won't, you'll be pleased to read). The number of times I've thought of that film and been totally unable to bring to mind its name or indeed anything else about it other than the broad storyline and feel. I've just done a Wiki' on it and confirmed it is indeed the very one - 'Stalker'.

I'm just about to wend my way bed-wards, after a long and tiring day, so will put some thought to a proper reply for tomorrow. In brief, though, yes, another superlative film. I'd need to see it again to bring enough to mind for a deeper opinion but the scratched surface reveals something of high calibre. Please keep in mind that I last saw it, perhaps only the once, some thirty odd years ago!!! What I do remember is the prosaic and mundane setting, and that the real journey was far more metaphysical. I am right in thinking it's the one where they have the invisible barrier to overcome, aren't I?

This is not helping me finish my current novel, you understand! If you keep throwing tempting titbits like this my way then I may have to become incommunicado, for a while at least.

Once again, thanks for the heads-up.

 

[Vladimir]

Yep, that's the one with the invisible wall. Glad to be of help and very flattered, but you absolutely don't have to kiss me (so I don't have to hide _another_ web page from my wife).

 

[CS Johnson]

My dear Vladimir, fear not, I’ll make no more cause for nefarious concealment and hence potential ammunition for our respective spouses but will instead chastise you for causing me some angst. However, from it may have come a modicum of illumination, not a bad thing in itself.

Let me explain, if you would. The odd spare moments, during yet another busy day, have invariably found me trying to jog my aging memory into remembering Tarkovsky’s ‘Stalker’. Strangely enough, YouTube has provided the most fertile visual source but all the short clips have taught me is how little I actually remember. So, I thought, why the vivid occasional recollections of something I know to be haunting but from which I can’t seem to pull much in the way of tangible ‘ghosts’ ?

The plot thickens, though! Like your good self, I too rated ‘Solaris’ above ‘Stalker’ but YouTube’s risen spectres have castigated, brought salutary lesson and turned my world upside down. They’ve hinted at perhaps far greater depth to ‘Stalker’ than I’d ever realised might be the case, as a callow, self-opinionated and smug late-teenager, and left me hankering after seeing it again, suspicious that it may in fact outshine ‘Solaris’.

You see, it seems to me that gold can often remain hidden from inexperienced eyes, that a story’s simple seduction can so easily blunt even the sharpest of young intellects. A good story’s ever a joy, I’m the first to agree, but it’s rarely all. ‘Solaris’ presents a beguiling and attractive story, certainly, and in which there’s a great treasure of provoking thought but I now suspect my immature eyes were blinded by the narrative frame.

What I’m keen to explore is whether ‘Stalker’ is actually the better argument, the more rewarding of the two in terms of content over arc. In fact, I’ve just thought, is the station based section of ‘Solaris’, the one you most enjoyed, akin to the whole of ‘Stalker’, where the actor’s skill was all, devoid of much real narrative, or don’t I remember well enough and am just talking bo11ocks?

 

[Vladimir]

Actually, it was the other way round for me, I preferred "Stalker" to "Solaris" as a teenager. Stalker's premise is much more intriguing, mysterious and dangerous. There are several scenes in there that seem to be influenced by Hitchcock. But, of course, it's Tarkovsky, so it all gets pretty deep very soon. And while Solaris has two distinct parts: the visual one and the talking, "Stalker" mixes them both.

It's very impressive visually, because it was filmed in an area heavily affected by toxical wastes (coming from a Russian powerplant - not quite Chernobil, but pretty bad), so the post-apocalyptic scenery is very authentic. The filming was also very hard, I read about actors and crewmembers suffering from poisoning, losing hair, some died shortly after the filming, and it's all reflected in the movie (I daresay that compared to it, "The Road" seems like a children play).

It deals with similar metaphysical themes as "Solaris"... However, in my today's opinion, not with the same subtlety and grace. It also lacks a strong female lead. But is it worth seeing? Most definitely.

 

[CS Johnson]

Interesting observation Vladimir, I'd never seen Hitchcock in them but then, well, yes. My better half has a great love of Hitchcock's work so I'll ask her when we're next in the same time-frame.

I also wasn't aware of the tribulations in filming, which may go some way to explaining the power of it. Thanks for that background. I'll have to track down a copy and view it once more.

 

[Extollager]

Tarkovsky's "Solaris" is for me one of the greatest films around. ...
A case in point is perhaps the stunning extended footage of Kris Kelvin travelling from the dacha, by car, to his departure for Solaris. It sums up, for me, how the film confidently works at a very subtle level and is hence the more powerful for it.

I'm very fond of it too.

I've taken that sequence in which Kelvin drives through those endless tunnels with lights seeming to pass by, as a riff on the sequence in 2001: A Space Odyssey with the lights rushing by as Bowman goes through the star gate -- and perhaps specifically as the Russians' way of saying "We love you, Stanley!" to Kubrick.

I have a take on the Tarkvosky Solaris movie -- I don't know the book at all -- that it is an sf version of the Undine story. Undine is the water-spirit who gains a soul through suffering for love of an earthly man (more or less). There's a lot that "fits" the story of Hari. I can post my notes here eventually.

 

[Extollager]

I'm going to post my notes on Tarkovsky's Solaris as a separate thread for convenience' sake.

 

[CS Johnson]

Excellent Extollager, your insight is most intriguing. I love the possible Kubrick tribute. I'll look forward to the new thread. Thanks. I must admit that Undine is new to me. I reckon you're also right, though, about the parallels between the 'star gate' and the car journey through the tunnels. A superb observation, sir, and most gratifying.

 

[D_Davis]

D_D, you've reminded me of one good thing I can say of the Soderbergh's film - the soundtrack is outstanding. I've seen it only once 10 years ago and I still remember it. My reaction to the rest of it was mostly very violent - not so out of place in Gully Folly's universe
.

Heh...

I definitely identify more with the emotion in Soderbergh's film. I am, if anything, a romantic at heart.

 

[BAYLOR]

By him Ive read Solaris which is superb novel

Memoirs Found in a Bathtub begs th question of when will HBO do a series baed on this wonderful book . You could very easily make a tv series this one .

 

[Daysman]

Medium threw this my way:

By reprinting six key works by the slowly fading Polish SF giant Stanislaw Lem, MIT Press hopes to revive his varied and considerable legacy

 

[The Scribbling Man]

I've read Solaris and I wasn't a fan, but shortly before that I watched and loved Tarkovsky's film which may have impacted my impression. I'm still interested in reading more by him.