Comments on: Great Movie Scenes: “Solaris”, the achingly beautiful final scene

By: simon

simon — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:38:35 +0000

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.

By: will

will — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:08:51 +0000

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?

By: Conservative Cabbie

Conservative Cabbie — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:05:17 +0000

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.

By: simon

simon — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:53:57 +0000

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.

By: ndm

ndm — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:02:02 +0000

Simon & Jesse -

I just realized this was a Jesse post rather than a Simon post. Sorry about any confusion my confusion may have caused.

By: Sometimes I think sitting on trains « Touching From a Distance

Sometimes I think sitting on trains « Touching From a Distance — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:52:55 +0000

[...] “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, [...]

By: ndm

ndm — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:01:39 +0000

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.

By: Edward McLaughlin

Edward McLaughlin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:40:10 +0000

Is his dad’s cardi on fire?

By: Jesse

Jesse — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:31:07 +0000

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

By: simon

simon — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:22:51 +0000

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