Solaris (1972) vs Solaris (2002)

This comparison is one that I’ve put off for a while for a couple of reasons. Firstly, as the original is a direct response to 2001: A Space Odyssey, a film I perceive as extremely overrated and pretentious, I wasn’t particularly hyped to watch it. Secondly, Steven Soderbergh, in my opinion, is also very overrated. Therefore, I went into this clash with rather low expectations for both films. Luckily for us both, I have been proven wrong this week with both films exemplifying the notion that preconceptions of a film can often mean nothing. With that being said, let's see how the Hollywood remake stacks up to the remake.

Protagonist 

Both films are led by Dr Kelvin, a psychologist sent to the station orbiting Solaris to investigate the strange behaviours of the remaining crew members. George Clooney’s version of the character is offered a more in depth backstory as the Hollywood remake reverts to a centralisation on the romance between Kelvin and his wife rather than a more philosophical journey into what it means to be human which is undertaken in the original version. The Kelvin in Tarkovsky’s Solaris is an unknown quantity, which in terms of the film is acceptable as he acts as a blank canvas in which audiences can imprint themselves onto allowing them to question their own humanity through his experiences. While this is a successful aspect of the original film. The emotion provided to Clooney’s version of the character underpins the entirety of the remake. Therefore, I must award Clooney and Soderbergh this point. 1-0 to the remake.

Supporting Characters

Due to the claustrophobic nature of the station orbiting Solaris, supporting characters are at a premium in both adaptations. However, the original begins with greater exposition into the impacts faced by crew members over the years while orbiting Solaris. One of the film's most memorable scenes is a recorded interview with former crew member Berton. The subtle performance by Vladislav Dvorzhetsky immediately showcases the mental strain of the expedition. Therefore, leaving both the audience and Kelvin (who is witnessing the interview for the first time) with an element of dread prior to his departure. Berton’s experience is confounded by the cuts from the interview tape to the present day Berton, a much older man who’s facial expressions still express the pain and trauma caused by his journey to Solaris. The 2002 remake cuts out Berton’s character altogether which leaves the film without the same sense of dread prior to Kelvin’s expedition. The crew members in the original, Snaut and Sartorius are more developed than their counterparts Snow and Gordon. Snaut and Snow act as guides for Kelvin as he unravels the mystery of Solaris. The difference being that Snaut’s lingering tendencies make him an unnerving character whilst also appearing like a guardian for Kelvin which results in the audience being able to fully trust even the “good” characters within the film. Snow on the other hand, is a much more passive character who by the conclusion of the film, seems rather inconsequential to the overall narrative. Their binary opposites are Sartorius and Gordon, both are antagonistic towards Kelvin and his “visitor”. However, Sartorius is once again left as a mystery with a single image of him hiding a young child in his room with no explanation as to the origins of the child explained, although this could be easily guessed. Gordon on the other hand, is an over-explained character which leaves actress Viola Davis with very little to work with. I think this provides pretty overwhelming evidence that Tarkovsky’s 1972 version of Solaris takes this one. 1 all.

Themes

This is also a fairly easy decision so I’ll keep this one brief. Solaris 1972 may have a slightly bloated runtime. But with this, long takes allow audiences to really connect with the message of what it truly means to be human. Our homes? Landscapes around us? The people around us? Or simply the decisions we make as individuals? Tarkovsky takes us on a journey that is truly all encompassing and probably leaves us with more questions than we started with. On the other hand, the remake disregards this for a much more audience friendly romance tale. While lines such as “What if I remembered her wrong” provide an interesting perspective on love and loss, it cannot compare with the hugely bold statement and questions raised by Tarkovsky. 2-1 to the original.

Cinematography

Neither film offers stellar cinematography, the confined nature of the station has a part to play in this as it is often natural landscapes that create the most beauty in cinema. Tarkovsky in particular has shown in his first two films that nature can be beautiful whilst humanity attempts to destroy this beauty. Tarkovsky gives us a look into his love for landscapes in the opening of Solaris as Kelvin walks around his garden admiring the flow of the river, reeds swaying and the stature of the trees. The remake shows Kelvin living in a futuristic city devoid of natural beauty. Both stations take strong inspiration from 2001 therefore they can’t really be picked apart in this regard. However, the design of the planet Solaris differs hugely in the two adaptations. Firstly, the original showcases the ocean of Solaris as viscous and menacing with influence seemingly coming from the toxic and inhospitable planet Venus. Whereas, The 2002 version shows Solaris as a brain, electric currents can be seen shooting across the surface as well as flares propelling beyond the planet's atmosphere. The CGI needed for this effect leads me to see this version of Solaris as slightly underwhelming. The planet created in the original feels like a piece of physical matter and therefore, I see it as another character within the film. 3-1 to Tarkovsky.

Ending

3-1 means that Solaris 1972 is my winner this week. Can the ending provide the remake with a consolation prize or hammer home the original’s victory even more? Short answer….. Yes, 4-1. Long answer, both films end with the twist that Kelvin returns to his old life, but on Solaris. The original depicts this with a slowly expanding shot that reveals his house and garden from the opening of the film is surrounded by the toxic looking ocean of Solaris. Once again questioning who he is? Why is he there now? And, was he always from Solaris? The film fades to black meaning that these questions can never be answered. Leaving us to contemplate the last 3 hours and encourage many rewatches to determine whether these answers may have been handed to us earlier in the film. In contrast, the remake brings Kelvin to Solaris in order for him to continue living with his wife, who died on earth 10 years ago. The happy ending is certainly refreshing however the film feels very much wrapped up. Resulting in a more forgettable conclusion to the film and leaves me with no desire to revisit the film ever again.

A slightly one sided affair this week, but it was very interesting to see two almost identical films on paper take such different turns along the way. Archie Marshall, you’re yet to change my mind on Soderbergh. I hope this verdict persuades you to give the original a go.