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Written by: Stanislaw Lem (novel), Steven Soderbergh (screenplay)
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Viola Davis, Jeremy Davies, Ulrich Tukur, John Cho
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
A troubled psychologist is sent to investigate the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a bizarre planet.
Verdict
This is personal introspection in the guise of science fiction. That's how
you make the leap to the question. What if a loved one could come back? What's next? How much would you sacrifice? It's not real, but what is real? Is this
in between good enough, where past mistakes are forgotten? These characters are held hostage with the promise of a second chance, and the scary thing is they don't know how these beings exist or their origin. Guilt overpowers all rational thought. The promise of making amends overrides reason. These characters would rather live in a nightmare for the mere thought at redemption.
Watch It.
Review
Recruited to travel to a space station near Solaris, psychologist Chris Kelvin (George Clooney) must analyze the crew experiencing issues. The crew won't elaborate on what they're experiencing, and a security team sent to the station never reported back. One of the crew, Gibarian, requested Kelvin specifically.
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| George Clooney plays Chris Kelvin |
Kelvin's arrival is punctuated by finding dead crew members. Answers are scare as the remaining crew are evasive. One of them tells Kelvin he needs to experience it to understand. The first odd occurrence is when Kelvin sees Gibarian's child. That's impossible as the kid isn't on the space station. The warnings of the crew soon take shape. This planet Solaris, or something nearby, is manifesting people, or at least the facsimile of people. We understand why the crew is unsettled yet refuse to leave.
A lost loved one is back, but it's not real. Is it real enough? Each of the crew is seeing someone they love and lost. It's easy to get emotionally attached. The feelings are already there, and it looks completely real. The underlying question is the what, how, and why this is happening. How are these beings generated?
Kelvin wonders what to do with this being that looks like his wife. Those thoughts are augmented with scenes from his past of how he met her and their life including the ups and downs. We don't know what happened to her, but we understand why Kelvin, and any of the crew, can't pass on getting back a loved one.
The real kicker is that these manifestations are based on memory and thus it's subject to perception. Kelvin is plagued by the question of whether his memory is correct. If he remembers her incorrectly is it really her? Kelvin can't let go of this manifestation due to the guilt over what happened between he and his wife as well as events on the ship. This is his chance to make amends and assuage his own guilt by not abandoning this image of his wife. Guilt is powerful. He's pushed to abandon the space station, realizing they don't understand these creatures, unaware of their capabilities and limitations.
It's a thoughtful exploration, wondering how much you give up to get something back. These characters would give anything to make amends, but what if the thing you get back is just a copy, fuzzy around the edges. Would you sacrifice just as much? How much is enough?
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