So, random Russian space movie. Apparently the filmmaker watched "2001" right before making SOLARIS and decided that he didn't want something that visually stunning and morally empty. Which was a good decision 'cause the Russian film bureaucrat decided that his budget would be less than half of what they agreed to so there's no way he could have made a movie that was visually stunning and morally empty. Instead SOLARIS is a quiet long study of the morality of science, the bittersweet pleasures of nostalgia, and the unspeakable intricacies of human relationships. It also has practically no special effects, some amazing camera work, a cavalier disregard for traditional narrative form, and a lot of hand-knitted clothing. There is also about five minutes of mind-numbing footage shot in Tokyo of the "City of the Future." Apparently they were allowed to go to Tokyo to shoot this city of the future but they didn't get there in time for the Worlds Fair. (Which would have looked cool.) Instead there was some problem with the visas going through on time so we get five minutes of someone driving around Tokyo to justify the cost of going there in the first place. To westerners it's skull crushingly dull. To Russians, who didn't have overpasses and long tunnells and multi-lane highways in 1970, it was the future. Pretty sad, really.
Anyway, it's an interesting film. I'm becoming more and more accostomed to Russian cinema styles and all of them seem to involve a lot more time, a lot less editing, and a willingness to leave the story up to a series of still-life images. I suppose it's only natural considering the regime these films were made under. Far easier to contine working if one dosn't actually say bad things about the folks currently oppressing you. It's a lot better to imply them with complex symbolism in order to sneak it by the censors.
Apparently there was a remake made starring George Clooney. I can see why he was selected to do the American remake. It's pretty much perfect casting cosidering the original. I'm curious now to see this remake. Will it be as
obscure, as opaque, as impossibly confusing as the original? Is that the reason it didn't do so well in the theaters? Americans don't like ambiguity so much and that's all this film is.It will be interesing to see.
and the city of the future is the best part of that movie. that may be one of the best scenes in any movie ever. well not the best, but up in the top 100. it's also a good measure of people's sensibilities about movies. if you're blown away by it, we should probably see movies together.
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