Solaris
Solaris

Solaris

1972Movie167 minRussian

A psychologist is sent to a space station orbiting a planet called Solaris to investigate the death of a doctor and the mental problems of cosmonauts on the station. He soon discovers that the water on the planet is a type of brain which brings out repressed memories and obsessions.

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IMDb8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes96%
Metacritic85/100
Google Users92%
Director: Andrei TarkovskyGenres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Plot Summary

Psychologist Kris Kelvin is sent to a space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris to investigate the strange mental states of the crew. Upon arrival, he finds only two surviving crew members and encounters haunting manifestations of his deceased wife, Hari. Kelvin grapples with the nature of memory, love, and the profound philosophical implications of humanity's encounter with an enigmatic alien intelligence.

Critical Reception

Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris is widely regarded as a masterpiece of philosophical science fiction, praised for its profound exploration of human consciousness, memory, and grief. While its deliberate pacing and abstract themes were challenging for some audiences accustomed to more conventional sci-fi narratives, it received significant critical acclaim for its artistic vision, emotional depth, and intellectual rigor, cementing its status as a landmark film.

What Reviewers Say

  • A profound and visually stunning meditation on humanity, memory, and the unknown.
  • Challenges conventional science fiction with its philosophical depth and deliberate, dreamlike pacing.
  • Praised for its haunting atmosphere and complex emotional resonance.

Google audience: Viewers praise Solaris for its intellectual depth, artistic beauty, and thought-provoking exploration of complex themes like memory, love, and loss. Many appreciate its unique, contemplative approach to science fiction, though some find its slow pace and philosophical nature demanding.

Awards & Accolades

Winner of the Grand Prix at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival. Nominated for the Palme d'Or.

Fun Fact

Andrei Tarkovsky reportedly disliked Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey,' considering it to be cold and devoid of human emotion, and sought to create a more introspective and human-centered science fiction film with 'Solaris.'

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CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Acclaimed psychologist "Kelvin" (Donates Banionis) is despatched to a space station to investigate the mysterious death of one of the three remaining scientists who are working on the surface of a remote moon. Upon arrival he discovers that...