Review: Solaris

Directed by: Andrei Tarkovsky

Written by: Friedrich Gorenstein & Andrei Tarkovsky

Starring: Donatas Banionis, Natalya Bondarchuk, Jüri Järvet, Vladislav Dvorzhetsky, Nikolai Grinko

Rating: [4.5/5]

Reality contains a finality to it the surreal can take away either in a positive or negative manner depending on the person experiencing it. An escape to the surreal can bring a reprieve when escaping from the roots reality bears, which presents quite the moral and emotional journey for the individuals stuck in the space station in Solaris. Incredibly trippy and ambiguous, this feature moves at its own pace and beguiles with what it explores. 

Sent up to the space station outside of the planet Solaris, Kris Kelvin (Donatas Banionis), a psychologist seeks to see the status of the individuals up there. When he arrives he sees one of the three have died with the remaining two exploring the visions of individuals appearing in the space station emanating from the power of the planet they hover over. 

The bones of Solaris certainly have the capability of turning into a straight horror film in the way these characters have nowhere to go on this space station and continue to see individuals who are not necessarily real but physically appear to them. Something that certainly has its own impact that could frighten but the planet takes it directly from the mind of the individuals on the space station and present people from their lives. Something that potentially could bring comfort but presents something incredibly heartbreaking for Kelvin as it’s a copy of his wife who died ten years prior. Instead of the horror approach, the feature opts for something more emotionally devastating through its exploration of Kelvin’s psyche. Something quite appropriate considering the man’s profession. 

Seeing one’s loved one in front of them after mourning them for ten years certainly makes Kelvin’s reaction somewhat hilarious and relatable amongst a truly emotional moment. Something so beyond what we comprehend, but allows for a fascinating dissection of the tenets of humanity and the way these characters deal with the physical amalgamations standing right before them representing individuals important in their lives. With it certainly comes some melancholy, seeing as Kelvin must contend with the reality of his wife appearing before him physically with all of the memories of her. It gives every illusion of this being her except for the knowledge of her death well-ingrained in his head thus raising questions about what this iteration of her represents in the grand scheme and what it could mean if he chooses to love her. 

This new physical version continues to raise questions about the planet they hover over Solaris, and why it has this impact on the individuals near it. A power they fully cannot comprehend and they surely hope with the research they’re doing interrupted by the presence of these individuals, more answers will appear. It further raises questions about the death of the third member of the crew up there and what caused it. If these physical recreations of beings had anything to do with it, this planet certainly presents itself as more of a threat than initially anticipated. 

As we traverse this space station, this feature demonstrates the spectacular work done through the camera by Andrei Tarkovsky. The placement of the camera makes such a discernible difference in various shots. It takes us into this space station completely in disarray making these moments completely captivating allowing for some striking shots as Kelvin tries to figure out everything going on here. Tarkovsky’s framing, particularly in the conversation help between him and his wife’s copy sits there allowing for the emotion of the circumstance and the performances to take complete hold of the situation. This allows Donatas Banionis to shine as he must contend with the emotion of this situation. 

Banionis brings out the grief and the terror in his face as he must contend with what’s real and sits inside his head. It makes him such a conflicted character in his search to make the best of this situation, which Banionis handles each swing very well. With Natalya Bondarchuk’s performance as Hari driving the emotion because of the feat she must emote for the sake of the story, these two collaborate so well in harnessing the emotion of this story. Contending with the tone of this feature they bring out everything necessary to ensure we feel the push and pull of the dynamic between them and the difficult decisions necessary in the future. 

A conflicting and emotionally moving story, Solaris uses its trippy form of storytelling to bring forward a devastating story worth the exploration up in space. The setting provides the perfect feeding ground for the emotional and psychological derailments at the center to have quite an impact narratively and when the final decisions get made, it feels like a completed journey. Along with the two lead actors portraying the unfortunate couple, Tarkovsky embroils us in this narrative filled with conflict and necessary discussions when it comes to the humanity of people and at what point a line gets crossed in the way it intersects with the emotion of the situation. Quite the stunner and one leaving plenty to think about as the final credits roll.