Stalker

"Here I told you recently... It’s all lies. I don’t give a damn to all this inspiration. Moreover, how should I know, how should I call that... what I want? And how should I know that I do not want that what I want? Or, let’s say, that I actually do not want that what I do not want? It’s all these empirical things: if you name them, their meaning disappears, melts, vaporizes… like a jellyfish in the sun. Have you ever seen that? My consciousness desires the victory of vegetarianism in the whole world, but my unconsciousness dreams about a piece of juicy meat. And what do I want?" What would you do if given the opportunity to fulfill your deepest, most secret, desire? Would you take it without a moment of hesitation? Or would you stop and ask yourself if you know what it is you actually want and what if what you want goes against your conscience? This dilemma is presented In Tarkovsky's "Stalker". The stalker guides two other men, the writer seeking inspiration, and the professor seeking a noble prize, through "The Zone" to "The Room" which is supposed to grant its inhabitants their deepest desire. But throughout their journey, they ask themselves critical questions about the nature of their desires and the effect that the fulfillment of their desire will have on other people. Will it cause Happiness or Misery? Is it good or Evil? Tarkovsky's "Stalker" is a true masterpiece with philosophical insight reminiscent of the Russian literary greats. I loved his use of color throughout the film and the contrast between the sepia outside world and the lush green vegetation shown when first entering the zone. I also loved Tarkovsky's use of ambient sound, the birds cooing in the distance the sound of a faint breeze, and torrents of water underground. He's not afraid of silence. There's barely any music in the film aside from "Ode to Joy" at the end. I don't this film would appeal to the general American audience, as there's very little action and no romance, but I'm okay with that. It's a movie that I would recommend to anyone interested in philosophy and psychology.