gemini://thrig.me/blog/2023/06/15/solaris.gmi
Solaris, in all forms, was a huge influence on me. I remember being up late as a small child, Tarkovsky's Solaris on TV. I was desperately trying to figure out what's going on, but it was very mysterious and completely over my head...
Later on my father introduced me to Lem, my life-long favorite writer. I've read and re-read Solaris many times, always finding something different...
The movie is kind of nuts, to be honest. I think it was an attempt to match 2001-A Space Odyssey in scope. I am always particularly amused by the running-around-the-circular-hallway-for-no-reason scene, which to me rings as a low-budget response to glorious rotating space-station excercise scene, and the 15-minute driving-through-the-tunnel-for-no-reason scene matching the hyperspace jump scene...
Also, the wacky switches between b&w and color... Dissertations had been written about it, but I am pretty sure that, back then in the Soviet Union, they simply ran out of color stock and had to make do with what was available.
In the end I think the movie butchered the story with the idiotic, added-for-no-reason Father figure and the whole redemption of the wayward son or whatever nonsense. What the hell was that about, and why do filmmakers insist on resolving their daddy issues in films?
So 50 years later I think I can honestly say that the movie kind of sucked, although I am still a fan (I like many things that suck).
The book however is timeless and wonderful. Read it if you haven't - you will not be sorry.