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Reviews
Stolen Summer (2002)
A Tremendous First Effort
I just viewed Stolen Summer on DVD and this is a fine film for a first-time director. I am an avid movie watcher who likes everything from Kubrick to Kurosawa to Tarkovsky and it is easy to recognize that Pete Jones has incredible potential as a writer and filmmaker.
A touching story that was well acted, edited and paced. Even the child acting was fairly good. This was a very solid effort for a first-time feature on a tight budget.
Kevin Pollak is a very underrated actor.
Nice job all the way around! I hope we get to see more of Pete's stuff in the future.. it should be worth it.
Stalker (1979)
A journey through Life and the Body to reveal the Soul
Stalker is a visual delight and another Tarkovsky masterpiece. It would be a stretch to call this a "science fiction" film. It seems to me as a story about faith, love and how a person truly sees themselves when there is no way to hide what really lurks in their soul.
"Stalker" is a man who leads people into a mysterious area called "The Zone." The Zone has been cardoned off and protected by the authorities after many people had entered the area and vanished. We are told that "The Zone" was likely created by a meteor that fell to the earth and could be controlled by aliens or a strange lifeforce.
On this occasion, "Stalker" leads two men, "The Writer" and the "The Professor" into "The Zone" in search of "The Room." It is a place in "The Zone" where one's innermost wish is supposed to come true, whether you want it or not. "The Room" is a place that intrigues and terrifies all of the characters. However, they must try and reach it and find out if the strange stories about "The Room" are true.
Along the way, we see some incredibly long, but beautiful takes. We also see the shots outside of the zone done in monochrome. It gives the viewer the feeling that the world outside "The Zone" has become a colorless, cold place.
When the men arrive in "The Zone," the world suddenly becomes alive with color and it gives the viewer the impression that incredible things could happen in this mysterious place. One's faith about the world and the beauty of life come alive again.
"Stalker" guides the men through "The Zone" by taking strange routes toward "The Room." He throws bandages weighed down by bolts as a guide and is respectful of not taking the easy, direct path to "The Room," almost as a tribute to its awe and wonder.
Both of the men trying to reach "The Room" are doing so for entirely different reasons. "The Professor" questions whether such a place can truly exist and cannot see how all of this can be.. he cannot understand the supernatural.. it is not within his framework of knowledge. And he seems afraid of that which science cannot explain or understand. "The Writer" seems to be looking for inspiration. Along the way he begins to question whether or not he will enter "The Room." Does he want his truest, most sincere wish? Does he have any idea what his mind and soul truly desire? It seems in the end he questions his own faith and whether or not his wish would even be anything he WOULD want or could LIVE with.
In my opinion, "The Stalker," takes people on this journey because it is the only place where he truly has power. He describes himself as a "louse," but in "The Zone," he is the guide who knows how to avoid the traps and mysteries of the region and takes people to a place where they can believe and have hope.
The journey itself seems to be the story here. It is almost as if the characters must explore their own lives and question their motives along the way to find out if "The Room" is even a place they WANT to enter.
The visuals are highly symbolic. They stop to rest. Lying by, or in, still water which shows the stoppage of time for reflection. The icons, needles and weapons submerged beneath the surface of the water show all of the things humans must contemplate throughout their own lives. The characters even have to "wade" through water to get to "The Room." It like they're wading through life itself.. asking questions about faith, science and philosophy along the route. They almost have to wade through chest-deep water (like a baptismal) to get to the treshhold of "The Room." "The Writer" even wears a Christ-like crown of thorns as he reaches the room.. but only temporarliy. Is his faith to weak to become "Christ-like" for even a few moments?
In the end, the fascinating thing about this film is whether they will enter "The Room" and if "The Zone's" powers are real? Or all in the mind of their mysterious guide? It is for the viewer to decide.
And the closing shot of "The Stalker's" mysterious daughter, "Monkey" is brilliant and puzzling. "Monkey" is an unusual child who cannot walk. The impression is that it may be due to "The Stalker's" repeated exposure to "The Zone," but we do not know for sure. We do see at the end that "Monkey" has special powers.. moving three glasses along a table (symbolic of the trio's journey into "The Zone"). Is it telekenesis? God? The Zone? We do not know. As with most of Tarkovsky's films, we are left to decide for ourselves. And figure out "who" these characters are and what the film stands for.
Each of us will come up with many different answers. That's what makes Tarkovsky great.
*10 out of 10