Director/Birth Country/Year Born: Andrey Tarkovsky, born in Zavrazhye, Kostroma Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Ivanovo Oblast, Russia] on April 4th, 1932. [IMDB]
Budget: RUR 6,000,000 (estimated) [IMDB]
Gross: ?
Synopsis: Outside of a dark, dystopian and gray unknown city is "The Zone," a place of utopia and life threatening risks, therein lies " The room" which, when entered will help you obtain the desires of your heart. In order to survive the journey through " The Zone" one must hire a Stalker to help lead the way, but this time, the Stalker encounters something unexpected.
Narrative and Visual Keywords: cinematic,visual, monochrome, colorful, slow, abstract, surreal, cerebral, leader, follower,worry, disappointment, sci-fi, dystopian,philosophical, religious
Characterization/Dialogue: The script was very well written, the dialogue was intelligent and very philosophical. The characters, the three main characters, even though they were going on the same journey, were each different and unique in their own way.
Camera/lighting/editing technique: Lots of slow dolly push - ins, long takes, editing was slow paced, the lighting varied, during the monochrome shots it was low key, high contrast, and when it was in color it was both low and high key with low contrast.
1. What are the characters’ attitudes toward work/ What is their work ethic like?
- Nothing about this film was related to work or work ethic, it was all about a journey and self discovery.
2. Were you able to distinguish the use of symbols/ What story elements seemed surreal?
- I
noticed a few literal symbols, some symbolism of Christianity , icons
of Christ was in the river at a point in the film, along with weapons,
other objects and there was also a crown of thorns that one of the men
actually placed on their head. There was definitely use of symbolism and
religion, however the movie itself was filled with lots of
philosophical dialogue and was deeply focused and self discovery
(especially when the men reached the room). It was surreal indeed, one
place is monochrome and dystopian, they leave this place by traveling on
this cart through train tracks and enter pretty much “another world” or
the outskirts of this monochrome area and into a place filled with
color and a type of place of rest, that’s very quiet and empty but in
itself is a place with hidden dangers, and then there's "the room" which
is a place where one can obtain his inner desires. "The Zone" is a
surreal place, that and obviously the room is surreal, both are as if
not of this world, like a dream scape. There was also one spot where
they were inside of a warehouse that had piles of sand, didn't
understand what that represented, but too me that was very surreal as
well. The whole movie has this visual and abstract aesthetic and in
particular carries this surreal vibe to it.
3.
Does the main character seem in control of his/her own destiny? In
relation to the individualist vs. the communist perspective? Does the
character have a viewpoint concerning the divine or "God"?
- The
Stalker is in control, but not really of his destiny. He knows
everything about “The Zone” and the powers of “The Room.” In a way all
three of the main characters can be in control of their destiny, because
they all reach “The Room” - which can fulfill their inner most desire,
which can therefore lead to their destiny. However, by doing that they
can eventually become like “God” and have power. Personally I think,
“The Room” is a symbolic place of power and “God” like and also Stalker,
he’s all knowing in the film, he is the representation of divinity,
“The Zone” is like his kingdom and “ The Room”.....well that’s a place
of power!
Random:
- Understanding
this movie can be simple, if you just watch it and observe it on the
surface which seems simple, but I strongly believe that Tarkovsky
planted a deeper meaning into the film which may have been his intention
in the first place. So far, what I have written above is as far as I’ve
figured it out so far, definitely will need to do some more research on
this film. But, here’s a couple links to important and interesting
insight of what people have tried to figure out about the film, there’s
much more out there, but here’s what I’ve found so far info:http://www.filmref.com/directors/dirpages/tarkovsky.html
(scroll down a bit to find the paragraph on “Stalker”)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/feb/06/andrei-tarkovsky-stalker-russia-gulags-chernobyl
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