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Great Movie Scenes: “Solaris”, the achingly beautiful final scene
In this final scene from Andrei Tarkovsky and Stanislaw Lem’s science fiction masterpiece Solaris, 1972, we see a man return home to his childhood house, by the lake he knew as a boy. By the perfectly still water, he pets his old dog. Inside the house, he finds his Father. But something is not right. Needing no real context or knowledge of what precedes it, this scene is beautifully conveyed, made more so by Bach’s haunting, fragile music. The meaning of the scene is both ambiguous and utterly certain. We do not know where the man is, or why, but we know exactly how he feels in this final, transcendent moment.
There are almost too many great scenes in Tarkovsky to count.
I have made more than a few pilgrimages to San Galgano, near Siena, to celebrate the closing scene of Nostalghia. The fire scene in Mirrors is justly famous. I love the use of “Erbarme Dich” in the opening scene of The Sacrifice.
However, there is just too much greatness in the films of Andrei Tarkovsky to succumb to the easy charm of a clip.
ndm you’re right that we can’t distill Tarkovsky to just one clip and we haven’t tried to do that, rather the purpose of the series is to showcase great movies scenes, which this undoubtedly is.. Why don’t you join the party and describe why a great Tarkovsky scene or any other scene works for you.. You’d be most welcome
ndm I would politely suggest you’ve mistaken reverence for ignorance. This scene was specifically isolated to illustrate Tarkovsky’s genius for the very reason it can stand alone, like a perfect microcosm of his theme. A 165minute blog post is obviously unreasonable and I don’t think a clip in and of itself is something that can be ‘easy’ or ’succumbed’ to. This attitude is rather elitist. But you are clearly someone who knows cinema intimately so why not share this by posting something of your own choosing. Or, if you don’t like clips on principle I would suggest avoiding the internet… It’s full of them I’m afraid
Is his dad’s cardi on fire?
Simon & Jesse -
I should perhaps have been clearer in my final sentence. I certainly did not intend to criticize Simon and was, if anything, mocking myself for linking to three clips from Tarkovsky.
Given the notorious difficulty of his films it is truthful rather than elitist to suggest it is easier to watch a clip from a Tarkovsky film rather than the film itself. A three minute clip of a slow-movingriver with a black dog running along its bank would have most film-goers out fetching more popcorn.
[...] “Great Movie Scenes” chosen by Scott & Jesse, rely on the music being harmonious with the images to bring out the emotion in the scene.. Okay, [...]
Simon & Jesse -
I just realized this was a Jesse post rather than a Simon post. Sorry about any confusion my confusion may have caused.
ndm No worries, I’m just glad you’re reading the blog. I agree most movie-goers would struggle with 3hrs of Tarkovsky but I’m so glad that movies like Solaris exist.
I really dislike films where the director thinks he’s the star. A good film is one where you forget that there is a director involved. I’ve never seen Solaris but judging from this clip, this is coffee house pap.
I haven’t seen Solaris, but is the meaning of the scene that the earth is flooded and only his dad’s house is left?
Will water is important in Solaris, the action (what little there is) takes place on a spaceship orbiting an ocean planet, the ocean would appear to be the alien intelligence.. it all get’s a bit complicated, basically it helps to be a bit stoned lay back and just immerse yourself in the very slow moving visual slendor of it all and don’t worry too much about what is going on .. Don’t bother with the Steven Soderbergh remake, okay Natascha McElhon is gorgeous but it’s Solaris lite, you really need the full 3hrs of Tarkovsky and a comfy sofa.