Stalker

First of all, I'll talk about the visuals and then transition to the main topic. In the early parts of the film, there is a dull, calm, boring, and unattractive quality, which actually reflects the tediousness of reality. The writer’s goal is to escape this monotonous reality by constantly seeking something new, never becoming monotonous or predictable. A similar situation is present in Stalker as well; the protagonist despises life and is eager to go to the Zone. At the beginning of the film, the boring filtered reality transforms and gains color when they enter the Zone. This visual storytelling was something I noticed and liked. There are likely many such examples of visual storytelling, but I can’t say I understood all of them. However, I do not hesitate to think that the visuals are stunning. Each one is a perfect shot that beautifully supports the film’s atmosphere. I’m too lazy to summarize the plot, so I’ll assume that we all know the story and proceed with my analysis. First, I want to talk about what the Zone symbolizes for me. I think the Zone represents purgatory, it is stuck between the room where one’s innermost desires come true, and the dull and unattractive world represents hell. Another interpretation could be that the Zone’s constantly changing nature is a depiction of life’s unpredictability and uncertainty. Now, let’s talk a bit about the roles of the characters in this story. Stalker: The main character and guide, Stalker, represents the spiritual guide figure. He symbolizes faith and hope; for him, the Zone is a sacred and meaningful place. While other characters may be skeptical or rational, Stalker believes with pure faith that it is possible for a person to reach their innermost desires. According to Tarkovsky's view, Stalker's belief reflects humanity's capacity to continue its search. The rejection of this belief at the end of the film deeply affects him mentally. The Writer: The Writer can be associated with the artist and creative mind. In the film, he is skeptical about reaching the room and fulfilling his desires. Although he sees the Zone and his quest as an attempt to find meaning, he experiences existential crises and questions the meaning of art. The Writer character symbolizes the human creative potential and the struggle to find meaning despite it. This character somewhat reminds me of Nietzsche. One reason is that Nietzsche criticized two groups of people: the believers and the rational scientists. Nietzsche argued that organized religion suppressed individual freedom of thought and creativity. For him, faith was a weakness and escape that hindered a person’s ability to create their own meaning. He also had reservations about scientists, as he believed that excessive rationalism could fail to provide meaning and value to a person. Nietzsche’s criticism was that both religion and science diverted humans from the search for "true" meaning. The Writer character is caught between these two opposing poles. On one hand, there is Stalker’s pure faith and devotion to the mystical journey; on the other, there is the Professor’s rational scientific approach. The Writer struggles to make sense of his own creative journey between these extremes. He may think that a life filled with faith is superficial and dogmatic, while also being troubled by the soullessness and meaninglessness of scientific approaches. This struggle is consistent with Nietzsche’s idea that the individual must overcome limitations from both extremes to become the "Overman". The Writer is close to Nietzsche’s view that the individual must create their own destiny and meaning; however, his deep skepticism toward both faith and science places him in a dilemma. This conflict reflects Nietzsche’s criticism of nihilism and the necessity for the individual to create their own values. Additionally, Nietzsche’s views on the "nature of art" come into play. Nietzsche claimed that art makes life more bearable. The Writer’s relationship with art and reality can be likened to Nietzsche’s views on how art transforms life. The Professor: The Professor represents science and logic. He is depicted as someone who relies on rational thought and objective knowledge. He tries to analyze the nature of the Zone and the power of the room but ultimately realizes that he is also in an inner quest. The Professor shows how humanity’s search for meaning has been shaped by scientific and technological progress but also realizes the lack of emotional and spiritual aspects in this quest. Stalker’s Daughter (Monkey): At the end of the film, Monkey can be interpreted as a new hope or a new beginning. In the final scene, Monkey uses telekinetic abilities to move objects, which advances Tarkovsky’s earlier mystical themes and concepts of faith. Monkey’s abilities show that she is different from ordinary humans and can be seen as a direct inheritance of Stalker’s faith. Stalker’s disillusionments and the collapse of his belief in humanity’s salvation or search for meaning may have occurred, but his daughter’s extraordinary power signifies that this hope has not vanished and has, in some way, been renewed for the future. This represents a new beginning or a higher level of consciousness for humanity. Moreover, this scene symbolizes a kind of spiritual transformation or evolution. Stalker’s daughter signifies a new form of humanity with a more profound and inner power beyond the old world represented by him and the other characters. This supports the film’s theme that meaning must be found inside rather than outside. Ultimately, Stalker’s daughter can be seen as a sign of a new world filled with deeper faith and hope, offering a remarkable glimmer of hope within the film’s pessimistic atmosphere. That’s it for my analysis. Although there might be a few more things I could have mentioned, I think most people won’t read even this much. Also, let me give a rating—although it might not be an appropriate rating for a work like this, I would give it a 9.7, which makes it a 5-star film. For me, 4.5 represents 9 and 9.5 represents 10, but I would never give 10. However, since I was a bit bored at times, I don’t think I can place this film among my favorites, no matter how good it is. See you next time!