2021 Movie Draft- Round 6 Pick 9- Strange Dylan selects- foreign film- Stalker.
The Kubrick of European cinema: Andrei Tarkovsky
Without a doubt one of the best science fiction films ever. One that is filled with psychology and philosophy that will keep the mind and heart moving. Three men: A writer, a professor, and the Stalker travel to a forbidden area called “The Zone” wherein a specified location, their deepest, the most profound dream will come true.
During a first watch, this film can come off as pretentious garbage, but if one really stays with the film and doesn’t throw away its vague dialogue, it will be an enriching experience. All three characters have deep-rooted problems that become unearthed as the story develops. I will not go into either, but I will say The Writer’s monologue close to the end of the film is one of the best monologues in film history.
The shots of the zone are mysterious and haunting with long looming shots that really immersive the audience. Often these long shots can be filled with dialogue that takes the form of poetry rather than an actual conversation. At times you really get a sense of the despair these characters feel through these moments, and the sound design with dripping water to the clank of a railway car pulls the atmosphere closer. The score helps too with the vast green and decay with long octave noises throughout the scene that is almost horror-like.
This film was shot three times and due to shooting at radioactive sites, the director died of cancer almost ten years later. I think this is Tarkovsky’s best film due to the themes and the filming of it all. Despite the long run time, the film will stay within you to press play on it once more.
Stay Well!
The grubbiness, the water and wetness, the shadows, make it look really menacing. Never heard of it but after reading your review and seeing the trailer, I hope I can borrow it through the library. Nice to hear of good new movies like this. Terrible to hear that the director was poisoned by radioactivity while making it. Good choice and good review, Bailey!
Thank you! I think this is a film that really is unique and never have I seen nothing like it since!
You’re welcome.
Dude. This is incredibly haunting…not just the film but, the background to it, as well. When I read the part about Tarkovsky dying ten years later, I immediately thought about the Chernobyl area and its “zone.” After watching this, clearly, Estonia has some really bad places, too:
Yea! The background is incredibly interesting and sad! I love this guy’s channel! I think this video was the one that got me to watch Stalker for the first time!
Absolutely fascinating!
Menacing sounds like a good description, but good review and good job finding a title I bet most of us have never heard of!
It is one of those that is hidden under the rubble of many great films!
I have to finally see this at some point. It’s the length that repels me, but I will take your word for it and give it a shot when the wife and daughter are visiting the in-laws, and I’ve got time to kill. This is one of those titles that I think every film lover has to see, so I thank you for pushing it at the top of my Watchlist, Bailey 🙂
The length took me back as well…. I recommend that you just try to turn off all distractions and really let the visual and literal poetry come within and without you!
I’ve been sitting on this a long time. Time to pull the trigger. Thanks for the nudge B.
Let me know what you think! It is well worth your time!
Will do.