Stalker (1979)
Three people go off into the wild in search of a possibly-supernatural phenomenon. On their way, they bicker with each other, getting on each other’s nerves (and sometimes the nerves of the audience, too). We never actually see any of the terrifying things that confront them… but toward the end, a woman makes a tearful confession directly into the camera, and…
And…
Ummm, even though all this is technically accurate, I see I’m inadvertently giving a description of the wrong film. Let me try again:
Our protagonist goes from a mundane, monochrome world into a mysterious land of color, where nothing is quite the same; and (with some curious, ill-matched companions and a dog) follows a winding path on a quest for a magical place where they’ve heard their wishes will be granted… Theyyyyy’re off to see the…
Oh, boy. Now I’m really describing the wrong movie. Forget it. Just read the damned review, OK?
Will Laughlin is the Braineater.
#1 by El Santo on March 3, 2016 - 11:52 am
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I’m very impressed. With this review, you’ve almost made me want to give Stalker another chance. Almost.
#2 by The Rev. on March 10, 2016 - 12:41 am
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I recall referring to one of your past articles as “near-Beggian.” Well, I do believe I can safely remove the modifier for this one. All I knew about Tarkovsky and his movies came from El Santo’s reviews, having never seen any myself and not really making a point to read up on the subject. I feel like I just took a entire college course after reading this; even better, I never once got bored or found my attention wavering. I’ll be making it a point to watch something from him in the very near future. Hell of a piece, man.
#3 by Braineater on March 10, 2016 - 6:48 pm
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If by “Beggian” you’re referring to quality as well as length, then I take that as very high praise; thank you. When I passed 10,000 words I began to get a tad concerned for my readers.
By the way, Mosfilm has a YouTube channel, where you can watch all kinds of Soviet and Russian cinema (including all Tarkovsky’s Russian-made films) freely and legally.
#4 by The Rev. on March 10, 2016 - 11:03 pm
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It should indeed be taken as high praise. Beggian is not in any way intended as an insult; he has a knack for presenting insanely-detailed histories of movies, and cinema in general, but in a fashion that is compelling, in a way I love reading (and re-reading).
Certain movies I am okay with watching on my laptop. Something like Crazy Fat Ethel isn’t really going to be harmed by that format. Things I’ll likely never find on my own are fair game, as well; I’d have never seen the stupefyingly insane Hanuman and the 7 Ultramen any other way, I’ll bet, and I wouldn’t give that experience up for anything. (Hell, I wish we could show it at T-Fest because I think it’d be perfect.) While some of his films are likely going to fall under the latter, I do want to make it a point to see one of his better-known ones in a more traditional format with a larger screen. I’m pretty sure I can find Solaris, which would be my most-likely starting point, on my Roku or Amazon or something. However, I thank you for that note on Mosfilm’s channel; I’ve no doubt there are things there I’ll be watching as I’ve almost no experience with Russian/Soviet films. Sounds like something to do this weekend, in fact.
#5 by lyzard on March 11, 2016 - 1:20 am
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I need to add an “Amen!” to both points being made here.
I was lucky enough, back in the day, to see both Solaris and Stalker on the big screen, and I have no doubt that contributed significantly to my positive reaction to each.