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Tarkovsky's Stalker

  • 10-04-2008 1:02pm
    #1
    johnny_ultimate
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,019 CMod ✭✭✭✭


    I was always a bit scared by Tarkovsky's films. Most of them being considerably over 2 and a half hours long, I was afraid of three hours of difficult, challenging Russian cinema. The first film of his I watched - the immensely difficult Mirror - didn't really allay my fears - a superbly made film, but a very, very challenging one which certainly felt like a bit of marathon.

    But I have just watched Stalker, which is one of the most astonishing films I have ever sat through. A sci-fi film at heart, it really is one of the most eerie, powerful and stunning-looking films I have ever sat through (although I did watch it over two sittings). The story is a complex one, which massive room for interpretation - is it about religion, politics or something else? It is one of the deepest and most intelligent films I have ever watched, with some of the most hypnotic cinematic camera work ever - The 'Zone' is rendered as a mysterious, magical and disturbing place. It even got a sort of video game adpatation, with last year's STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl loosely based on it - not much Russian art-house scifi can boast of that!

    Anyone else seen the film, and any thoughts? Can anyone recommend any other of Tarkovsky's films along these lines (Solaris is my next in line)?


Comments

  • #2
    aurel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 126 ✭✭aurel


    Excellent thread. Stalker is just stunning as you say. It’s amazing what he accomplishes visually without any effects or bells and whistles. Easily one of my favourite films of all time. Love solaris also but I think The Sacrifice and Andrei Rublev affected me more, especially the sacrifice.


  • #3
    Creature
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,005 ✭✭✭Creature


    Actually both the game and film are based on a book called Roadside Picnic by Boris and Arkaday Strugatsky. I haven't seen it but it's on my list.


  • #4
    johnny_ultimate
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,019 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    aurel wrote: »
    Excellent thread. Stalker is just stunning as you say. It’s amazing what he accomplishes visually without any effects or bells and whistles. Easily one of my favourite films of all time. Love solaris also but I think The Sacrifice and Andrei Rublev affected me more, especially the sacrifice.

    Good point about the lack of effects - didn't really think about it all. Tarkovsky just relies on the scenery and careful camera techniques to create an otherworld atmosphere, and such an apporach feels far less manipulative then a sci-fi film packed to the gills with CGI and the like. Although I think calling it a sci-fi film is a little misleading - very little resemblence to any other examples of the genre, more along the lines of literary sci-fi like 1984 or something.

    Think they all the Tarkovsky films in my college library so will probably pick another one up tomorrow. I have heard great things about Rublev - although seems like the kind of film you need to be in a very alert and appropriate mood to watch!


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