Solaris (1972) Final Scene [SPOILER]

Timeless.

WARNING: For those who know & love this movie. Not a good idea to watch without seeing the whole.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• solaris
• solyaris
• tarkovsky

[Heavypsychoverdose]

He submited to his sleep, to use Gurdjieff terminology

[goliadkine]

@Heavypsychoverdose

i strongly disagree.

the entire film deals with the "awakening"/regeneration of the main character.

the last scene could be entitled "return of the prodigal son"

strong christian (and "dostoevskian") undertones as i wrote earlier.

the reuniting of the Son and the Father.

[klabauterkauz]

This scene is not in the book, is it? So the ocean has created Kelvins home including his father and that is where he is going to dwell henceforth.

[goliadkine]

I haven't read the book by Lem so I couldn't tell.

But I wouldn't be surprised as Lem was of jewish background and this scene is saturated with christian symbolism.

[TheMaciejgo]

@goliadkine Is that supposed to be comment? I have read all but 2-3 Lem's books and have never figured out any trace of "Christian symbolism". Lem was neither Juidaistic, nor Christian believer. Thus he wasn't adherent of such symbols. Although the book is ambigous, your comment misleads about the book.

[goliadkine]

@Maciej

i think you misunderstood (or my answer was obscure). i was expressing a reasonable doubt as to this scene being part of the book given how much it is "saturated with christian symbolism" (precisely) and taking into consideration Lem's own background on the other hand. so we actually agree :). I suspect Tarkvosky took some freedom in adapting the book. Now of course "the wind bloweth where it listeth"...

[ThomasRedfield]

Perfect ending for a perfect movie.

[lamanogaucha]

Solaris kept the cosmonaut as a guest in a perfect simulacrum of his reality back home. It's a gorgeous scene, with much profundity.

[Heavypsychoverdose]

@goliadkine Don't know about Christian ideas but the Gurdjieffian are more clear. But I respect your view

[MyHairIsAbnormal]

Absolutely amazing scene.

[zagyex]

@klabauterkauz No it's not in the book. I have read it.

[TheMaciejgo]

@goliadkine True. By the way, the end of in Lem's book brings hope, while the one in the movie is pessimistic.

[aliostad]

@goliadkine Yes, it is the redemption scene and yet so many dont see it. He never said even a word about his faith and yet he was so full of the LORD.

[aliostad]

@DChatc I dont think so. He started outside and at the end, joined the ocean. The final scene is the redemption scene.

[marcusbondi]

Awesome; he got his zerkalo. (I wonder if his Utopian subconscious 'eliminated' the KGB agents who would have been shadowing any cosmonaut on his return)

[johncarpenter1980]

is it just me, or does the final shot of the film slightly resemble the very first shot of the film?

[Henrymph]

Brilliant Film!!! ...though perhaps the most complicated film to have ever been created!!!!

[DChatc]

This is interesting assessment.

[DChatc]

I think it is the opposite, the implication in this film's whole premise may be that the cosmonaut was on Solaris all along (ie, his "reality back home" never existed to begin with).

[juankenon]

it probably would have imploded from the horror of it all

[taclas1]

I believe the ending scene is Solaris using Kelvin's brainwaves that were transmitted to the planet, to make it "understand". I believe the sentient planet understood enough that it stopped sending those copies of people to the space-station and instead created a scenario world on the planet itself...Having gotten enough information from Kelvin's mind, it created that island to study...

[taclas1]

I wonder what would have happened had they beamed the Kevin Costner movie "Waterworld" to Solaris below?! It would have either replicated the water-world, or became a huge critic???!!!!

[taclas1]

Don't forget, the Kelvin at the end is also a simulacrum --- he's wearing the same clothes from the beginning of the film, which makes it most likely that Solaris is using the cosmonaut's memories...

[lamanogaucha]

The Soderbergh remake is quite moving as well, but in a much more "intimate" sense, and not nearly as profound or cosmic. Tarkovsky gives this scene unbelievable gravitas. The whole thing is awe-inspring, especially if seen in its full context. Truly masterful filmmaking.

[moviemaniac14]

I'm a "movie maniac" not a "movie god"

[taclas1]

..but you're a "movie maniac" and should know all this stuff???!!!