Solaris (1972)

Solaris is a 1972 Russian science fiction film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (Stalker, Andrei Rublev). It is based on the Stanislaw Lem novel with the same name. It won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It is #67 on the artsandfaith.com list of 100 most spiritually significant films.

I have not seen the George Clooney remake.

Available at googlevideo:


The subtitles don't seem right. They sometimes don't change when the speaker changes and sometimes they seem to indicate a change of speaker when there is none. Sometimes there are subtitles with questions being asked and answered when there is no speech going on at all in the film, while at other times folks are talking without subtitles appearing on the screen.

Criterion has a 2-disc release, and DVD Journal reviews the film and Criterion's edition here. Senses of Cinema calls it "a visually hypnotic, deeply affecting story of conscience, love, and reconciliation". The New York Times says,"It is science-fiction in the formal sense of the word; in substance, it is a parable about the nature of mankind." Moria has a review. 1000 Misspent Hours doesn't care for it. Roger Ebert says,

Tarkovsky consciously tried to create art that was great and deep. He held to a romantic view of the individual able to transform reality through his own spiritual and philosophical strength.

366 Weird Movies says that, though weird, this is Tarkovsky's most accessible film.