#alisafreindlich

[adamwatchesmovies]

Stalker (1979)

Yes, Stalker is lengthy at 161 minutes and with its deliberate slow pace, subtitles, and many deeply philosophical moments it can be a bit difficult to get through, but it’s worth it. Afterwards, you’ll be unsure what to say except “I’d like to see that again”.

Set some time in the near future, the “Stalker” (Alexander Kaidanovsky) works as a clandestine guide into the “Zone”, an area of Russia in which the normal laws of reality no longer apply. Rumours say that within it there is a room that grants the deepest desires of whoever enters it. Stalker accompanies a writer (Anatoly Solonitsyn) and a professor (Nikolai Grinko) into the area, keeping anonymity from each other should they be caught by government forces.

The easiest film I can compare Stalker to is 2001: A Space Odyssey. In bot pictures, I’m not sure I understand everything there is to understand and I'm not sure I want to, or that it matters. This sentiment fits a film set in a place where there are hidden dangers everywhere and two people can walk in opposite directions and end up crossing paths. There’s great use of color and cinematography, with the Zone being in color and everywhere else being photographed in sepia tones. It helps convey the place's bizarre, otherworldly attributes (litterally, they say aliens are responsible for the Zone's creation). It makes the abstract concept of a place where normal rules don’t apply easier to grasp. It’s such a strange, meditative piece, particularly during the conclusion when you find out what the three characters are really about and the mysteries of the Room are revealed (well, as much as they can be considering what it does exactly).

The best way to experience Stalker is to dedicate a big chunk of time to it, like an entire weekend. That sounds like a lot, but hear me out. The best movies have lasting power, they just won't leave your head no matter what. No one who can spoon-feed the meaning of "Stalker" to you. All you can do is meditate on the differences between the characters. You'd associate writers and other artists with freedom and being more down-to-earth than other professionals, but that’s not the case here. What does that mean? How do the actions of the professor hint at his ultimate desire? What about the Stalker? He’s a tragic figure, and what does his relationship with the Room symbolize/mean, particularly when you consider the ending? Those are tough questions and the best way to answer them is to sit down and be patient.

Watch Stalker. Discuss it with others and check the special features included with the DVD. Then, watch it again and see how you feel about it a second time. That’s what I plan on doing and I’m very much looking forward to the experience. (Original language with English subtitles, January 6, 2017)

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf

[festivalrussehonfleur]

Films de compétition du 25ème Festival du cinéma russe de Honfleur. LA CARPE DÉGIVRÉE, réalisateur Vladimir Kott. Avec: Marina Neelova, Evgeni Mironov et Alisa Freindlich. #festivalrusse #festivalducinemarussehonfleur #honfleur2017 #du21au26novembre #alisafreindlich #marinaneelova #competition #jury #карпотмороженный #владимиркотт #алисафрейндлих #маринанеелова #евгениймиронов #фестивальонфлер #фестивальроссийскогокино #нормандия #с21по26ноября #основнойконкурс #like4like #likeforlike #instagood #picoftheday (à Festival du cinéma russe à Honfleur)

[ermolenkoyury]

Юрий Ермоленко, проект "ДЕВУШКИ, С КОТОРЫМИ У МЕНЯ НЕ СЛОЖИЛОСЬ..." (Алиса Фрейндлих), 2011 #алисафрейндлих #alisafreindlich #актриса #актрисы #актрисатеатраикино #народнаяартистка #певица #красота #красиваяженщина #талант #люблюкино #люблютеатр #шляпка #кинороман #кинотеатр #ермоленко #ермоленкоюрий #юрийермоленко #галереяfacevinyl #галереясовременногоискусства #современноеискусство #коллекция #коллекционер #ermolenko #ermolenkoyury #yuryermolenko #facevinylgallery #bobby #actress #cinema

[doomonfilm]

Thoughts : Stalker (1979)

The deeper I get into the literal world of film, the more I have begun to develop a distinct list of my favorite directors from different parts of the world.  Stanley Kubrick is my American candidate, Federico Fellini holds down my Italian tastes, Jean-Luc Godard is my French contingent, and so on.  Based on those selections, it comes as no surprise that my Russian director I turn to for inspiration is none other than Andre Tarkovsky.  Solaris may have been my introduction to his work, but for my money’s worth, I turn to Stalker.  

An anomaly known as The Zone has occurred in an indefinite dystopian future.  The Zone is a territory sealed off by the government in an attempt to keep its secrets unearthed, and it is said to contain a location within it known as The Room that grants anyone who enters their wishes.  A Writer (Anatoly Solonitsyn) and a Professor (Nikolai Grinko) enlist the aid of a Stalker (Alexander Kaidanovsky), or a tour guide through The Zone, in an effort to reach The Room and use its powers to their benefit.  As the Stalker guides the Writer and the Professor through The Zone, the men use the time to reflect on their motives and goals in regards to The Zone and The Room, as well as what they intend to do upon reaching it.  With The Zone providing its own set of obstacles and confusion to the men, great tension and peril is faced, goals are met and assessed, outcomes are changed, and lives are altered in resounding ways.

The lack of belief in the characters, especially the Writer and Professor, is the driving force of the narrative.  The Stalker, along with these two individuals and a handful of other characters, all feel compelled to enter The Zone and The Room, but nobody is willing to trust the Stalker or his methods fully.  The Writer and Professor often debate one another on their identities within their professions.  The Writer possesses a lack of belief in regards to what inspires his ability, or the sincerity of those who receive his musings.  The Professor and his crisis of faith in man nearly lead to a destructive end.  The Stalker is plagued constantly with a lack of belief in his ability to guide those who pay him through The Zone.

With the Writer and Professor falling on supposed opposite ends of the thought/rationale spectrum, debate is inevitable.  Timeless fights are upheld through these characters such as art versus science, feeling versus rationalizing, and being driven by the need to better man versus the need to control man and nature.  Despite constant appeals to both men from the Stalker, neither allows themselves to realize just how interconnected their two worlds are, the way that opposite sides of a coin are connected.  This understanding really comes to light during 4th wall breaks from the four main characters as they espouse true emotions and beliefs directly to the viewer, like an appeal to our reason.

The series of drastic visual shifts help break the film down into digestible sections in terms of informing us on how that world is affecting the characters, and us by proxy.  The very dirty and rustic look of reality is in high contrast to the colorful world of The Zone, despite its desaturation.  Once the Meat Mincer and the antechamber to The Room are reached, we are given yet another look to absorb as tensions between the three men come to a head.  The sets and locations in the film are breathtaking, and Tarkovsky manages to frame everything quite beautifully within his limited aspect ratio.  This is bolstered by long takes that allow the camera to explore long stretches of areas, while simultaneously giving viewers the feeling of living within that world the characters are navigating through.

Alexander Kaidanovsky contains and focuses a wonderful obsession with The Zone in his role as the Stalker, listening to the arguments that occur around him but remaining connected to the ever-changing path at all times, as if he is a piece of the environment.  Anatoli Solonitsyn harness a powerful cynicism towards his fellow travelers, often ruminating on the futility of his journey due to the knowledge that obtaining genius may ultimately kill the desire for inspiration.  Nikolai Grinko portrays a man of logic quite well, to the point where you don’t assume his ulterior motives are in existence until he shows his hand, only to ultimately be swayed by reason.  Alisa Freindlich bookends the film quite well with her monologues on acceptance.

Stalker is one of those rare gems that simply exists, waiting for the inevitable science-fiction lover or film buff to stumble across it and be forever changed.  If you’re not familiar with Andrei Tarkovsky yet, getting familiar isn’t a bad idea, and Stalker is as good a place to start as any.

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf

[nospoilerreviews]

Director Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker is certainly one film that every dedicated movie buff should take in at least once. https://is.gd/uW2Qmf