This film screened 18th May 2016.

Stanisław Lem’s science-fiction novel had previously been adapted for Russian television in 1968, but Tarkovsky brought his own sensibility to the genre, imbuing his moving and unsettling Solaris with an emotional and intellectual depth that has led to its status as one of cinema’s truly great science-fiction films. The crew of a scientific research station above the titular planet are troubled by apparitions of those they have lost, particularly new arrival Kelvin, to whom appears his late wife. The crew come to believe that these simulacra have been created from their memories by the planet, which is in some way sentient.

This film is screening as part of our Andrei Tarkovsky season, May 14th – 28th.