this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2025
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See, I find, that "critically acclaimed" and "popular" usually don't go well together. However, something with just critical acclaim from people I like (and sometimes a Criterion release) tends to be some of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed.
But to the meme's point, Tarkovsky's Solaris was boring, and hard to understand for me, so much so I didn't ever finish it. I'll have to try again maybe from a different perspective.
I actually enjoyed Solaris a ton for its pacing. It’s controversial understandably, but it felt like the story was moving at a real world pace, rather than the modern approach of one moment of action to the next.
It’s a slow burn, for sure and I wouldn’t say it’s for everyone.
I had a really hard time getting through Solaris, but the ending with the rain is burned into my soul. Sometimes the slog is important in order to feel the meaning.
Read the book. Seriously, Lem's depictions of all things alien are orders of magnitude better than any movie - even modern CGI - can be. (I watched the Tarkovsky movie after reading the book and wasn't impressed either)
You are supposed to be bored. His films are contemplative. They are also very Russian.
Stalker is even better/worse.
I really do appreciate art, but like anything meaningful, such things usually deserve more time to appreciate. I'll come around to it with time.
Spoiler for the OP:
Tap for spoiler
The planet is an alien organism that grants wishes.All the subconscious thoughts of the people on the space station Solaris come true, their fears, and anxieties as well.