Pessimism and Humanism in Tarkovsky's Solaris

Analytical review that explains how Solaris combines horror, philosophy, and sci-fi into a sensitive humanist film.

0:00 Introduction
1:08 Terror and Technology in Solaris
3:11 Tarkovsky's Disagreements with Kubrick and Lem
6:01 Conclusion

The media clips used in this video are expressly for review commentary, academic criticism, and comparison; their inclusion falls under the purview of Fair Use and does not violate copyright.

[yeltifeltino]

Bwahaha that little smirk Anne Hathaway does in the Interstellar clip after delivering that ridiculous line. She's like "I nailed it".

[BearlyAwake]

I had never heard of thos movie before, but I am definitely going to watch it now. Great video!

[Nabrashaa]

It's really impressive how human and yet very alien they make those solaris apparitions in this movie... The humanism perspective makes a lot of sense.

[vagabundorkchaosmagick-use]

One of the best 13 movies of all time, next to Winter Light, Blue Velvet and Gozu.

[jorgepeterbarton]

Its a non-scifi scifi.
'Trouble' with 2001 is its actual sci-fi. The humans are only there to divert attention away from into non-human 'transcendant' concepts.
And that with tarkovsky is a mythological approach, an inward mirror, no science contained (if you want the same premise see Katla, a new series- folklore or scifi, not sure).

...and then trash like Interstellar: starts with a sci-fi premise (science advisors, giving accurate picture of a black hole etc)...ends in folklore. Both are half-baked compromise. Same with Arrival. A science film turns into fairytale 'love beat science, saved the day, science really was love in the end' is like a tag-on so bored demographics dont walk out the cinema.

So neither Tarkovsky, or Kubrick have any troubles.
Nolan does...(other than his CGI, music, and ability to confuse the most for absolutely zero gain excluding perhaps Memento)

[olafferf]

Tarkovsky films have always been a little off putting to me because of their heavy spiritualism stuff. Bergman films sometimes annoy me for the same reason. But there's no denying he was a master at the craft, and your video does a great job of justifying Tarkovsky's approach from a big picture point of view. If I watch solaris again while thinking mostly about nature and love rather than thinking about "soul" like other critics put it, maybe I'll like it more.

[franklinshure]

Whoa man it just occurred to me this movie is almost 50 yrs old.

[abbfilmann]

''Love is the one thing we are capable of perveiving that transcends dimensions of time and space"

versus

"Shame, shame is the feeling, that will save mankind"

Yuupppp...

No