Solaris Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Grieving shrink goes to space, gets a second chance with his dead wife, and then things get *really* awkward.

🍿 Solaris: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Distress Call

Psychologist Chris Kelvin is contacted by DBA Emissaries regarding a video message from his friend Dr. Gibarian, stationed on Prometheus, a space station orbiting Solaris. Gibarian urgently requests Kelvin’s presence, hinting at incredible events. Contact with the station is lost, and an intervention team vanished. Kelvin is asked to investigate.

Arrival at Prometheus

Kelvin arrives at the seemingly deserted Prometheus. He discovers bloodstains and a makeshift morgue containing Gibarian’s body. He encounters two survivors: the erratic Snow and the reclusive Gordon. They hint at strange phenomena and urge Kelvin to experience them firsthand before understanding.

The Appearance of Rheya

Kelvin dreams of his deceased wife, Rheya, who committed suicide. He awakens to find her alive and well in his room. Confused and disturbed, he realizes she’s not the real Rheya but a manifestation conjured by Solaris. He initially ejects her into space, but another version of Rheya appears the following night.

Understanding Solaris

Snow explains that Solaris can materialize beings based on the crew’s memories and desires. Kelvin grapples with the Rheya apparition, torn between his grief and the implications of her existence. As Rheya becomes increasingly self-aware, she experiences the memories of the ‘real’ Rheya, including her troubled past and suicide.

Confrontation and Loss

The crew debates the nature and danger of the ‘visitors.’ Gordon advocates for their destruction, while Kelvin clings to the hope of a second chance with Rheya. Rheya, overwhelmed by her artificial existence and the knowledge of the first copy Kelvin abandoned, commits suicide by drinking liquid oxygen.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Kelvin (George Clooney): A grieving psychologist sent to investigate strange events on a space station, he is confronted by a manifestation of his deceased wife.
• Rheya (Natascha McElhone): Kelvin’s deceased wife, who reappears on the space station as a manifestation created by the planet Solaris.
• Gordon (Viola Davis): A scientist on the space station who remains pragmatic and wary of the phenomena caused by Solaris.
• Snow (Jeremy Davies): An eccentric and unreliable scientist on the space station, deeply affected by Solaris’s influence.
• Gibarian (Ulrich Tukur): The commander of the space station who sends a message to Kelvin before his mysterious death.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Chris Kelvin: “Earth. Even the word sounded strange to me now… unfamiliar.” – Kelvin reflects on his detachment from his past life upon returning, questioning his identity.
• Chris Kelvin: “I was haunted by the idea that I remembered her wrong, and somehow I was wrong about everything.” – Kelvin expresses his uncertainty about his memories of Rheya and his past actions.
• Gibarian: “There are no answers, only choices.” – Gibarian shares his fatalistic perspective on the planet and human interaction with it in a video message.
• Rheya: “You remember me wrong.” – The resurrected Rheya grapples with not being the person Kelvin remembers, highlighting themes of memory and identity.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $47,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $14,973,382
• Worldwide Gross: $30,002,758

💥 Solaris Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching ‘Solaris’ for the first time and feeling like I’d been transported to another dimension. The film really messed with my head! The way Soderbergh explored grief and memory through this sci-fi lens was unlike anything I’d seen. That scene where Rheya reappears on the space station actually gave me chills! I had to rewatch it to fully grasp all the nuances. It’s now one of my favorite movies to get lost in when I’m in the mood for something deep and thought-provoking.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of psychological science fiction”
  • “Viewers who appreciate thought-provoking films”
  • “Those interested in stories about grief, memory, and loss”
  • “Fans of George Clooney and Viola Davis”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suicide themes”
  • “Brief nudity”
  • “Intense emotional themes”
  • “Sci-Fi Horror”

Professional Reviews

• Rolling Stone: “Soderbergh crafts a visually stunning and emotionally resonant take on Lem’s classic, exploring grief and second chances with Clooney delivering a career-best performance. Some may find the pace slow, but the film’s haunting beauty lingers long after the credits roll.
• The New York Times: “A thoughtful meditation on loss and memory, ‘Solaris’ is a challenging but rewarding sci-fi drama. While it may not appeal to those seeking action-packed thrills, its introspective nature and striking visuals offer a unique cinematic experience. McElhone brings a haunting quality to her role.
• Variety: “Soderbergh’s ‘Solaris’ is a visually arresting but emotionally distant film. It’s a cerebral exercise that prioritizes atmosphere over narrative drive, leaving the audience admiring the craft but disconnected from the characters’ struggles. Clooney’s performance is understated, reflecting the film’s overall muted tone.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers were captivated by the film’s haunting atmosphere and visuals.: The film’s thought-provoking themes about love, loss, and identity resonated with a segment of audience.

Some viewers found the movie boring because its narrative is slow paced.: Many fans admitted to feeling a sense of confusion upon the first viewing.

Overall Consensus: A visually stunning and thought-provoking film that may not appeal to all viewers due to its slow pace and ambiguous narrative.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Steven Soderbergh took on the project because he was intrigued by the philosophical themes of the novel and the original film, and wanted to explore them in his own way.”
• “The film’s visual style was heavily influenced by the work of painters like Gerhard Richter and Francis Bacon, aiming for a sense of unease and emotional depth.”
• “Cliff Martinez’s score is deliberately minimalist and haunting, reflecting the isolation and psychological tension of the characters.”

🖥️ How to Watch Solaris?

Solaris (2002) is available for streaming on various platforms. You can find it for rent or purchase on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Solaris, you might like these similar films:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): Both films explore philosophical themes of existence and humanity’s place in the universe within a science fiction setting.
• Stalker (1979): Shares a similar contemplative pace and explores themes of forbidden zones, human desires, and the nature of reality.
• Arrival (2016): Like Solaris, it deals with communication barriers, grief, and explores how contact with an alien intelligence can alter human perception of time and reality.
• Moon (2009): Explores themes of identity, memory, and isolation in a space setting, similar to the psychological focus of Solaris.

🛒 Solaris Related Products

• Solaris (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A beautifully restored Blu-ray edition of Andrei Tarkovsky’s original Solaris film. It’s a must-have for cinephiles and fans of thought-provoking science fiction.
• Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris: A Critical Study: In-depth critical analysis of Stanislaw Lem’s book Solaris. This guide dives into the novel’s themes, characters, and literary significance, offering a comprehensive exploration for fans and scholars alike.
• Solaris (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Cliff Martinez: Immerse yourself in the haunting and atmospheric sounds of Cliff Martinez’s acclaimed score. This digital download captures the film’s emotional core, making it perfect for creating a contemplative and immersive atmosphere.
• George Clooney Movie Poster: A high-quality print featuring George Clooney in Solaris. Perfect for decorating home theaters, living rooms, or offices, it celebrates Clooney’s acclaimed performance in this cult classic.

🎧 Soundtrack

Solaris features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “First Sleep” – performed by Cliff Martinez
• “Is That What You Want?” – performed by Cliff Martinez
• “Riddle Box” – performed by Insane Clown Posse

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Solaris (And How it Influenced Silent Hill 2) | Monsters of the Week

If you’re a fan of both Solaris and Silent Hill 2, this video is a must-watch. It dives into the surprising connections between these two works, exploring how Solaris’ themes of isolation and loss influenced the development of Silent Hill 2’s haunting atmosphere.

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