Kris, a psychologist preparing for a mission to the planet Solaris, returns to his father's house apparently after a long time. His visit serves as a farewell to his family and a meeting with Burton, a friend of his father's and a former pilot on the same mission. Burton holds crucial information he believes is essential for Kris before his departure to the space station.
This will be a main theme throughout the entire film. Heraclitus, who was a Greek philosopher in the 5th century BCE, said that one cannot know nature and the nature of reality, because its natural state is everlasting change. Therefore, he said, one cannot observe the same thing twice. To illustrate this point to his contemporaries, Heraclitus pointed out the example of the flow of a river, into which one cannot step twice because the second time, it would be a water, entirely different from the one already past away.
This idea is used extensively throughout the film (to the point that the planet Solaris itself is covered by water in movement), to show how the characters, especially Chris, experience the reality of their lives. In the last scene, Chris can be seen standing in front of the lake near his father's house, but this time the lake will be frozen.
This sets the stage for the initial part of the film, where we will immediately see the meticulous attention to detail where both spoken and unspoken words carry weight. The opening scene reveals a river flowing beside a lake near Chris's father's house, adorned with aquatic plants that vividly illustrate the water's movement. This imagery will become a central motif throughout the film. Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher from the 5th century BCE, posited that nature and reality are inherently unknowable due to their perpetual state of flux. According to him, one cannot step into the same river twice, as each moment brings a new and distinct flow.
This concept is woven into the narrative to portray how characters, particularly Chris, who at this point walks by the lake where he grew up, navigate the shifting realities of his life, where past, present and future seem to coexist in his mind. The film will culminate in a final scene where Chris stands in front of the lake, but then it will be frozen—a symbolic reflection of his interaction with Solaris.
Another recurring image in the film is that of a horse, which appears multiple times as Chris wanders around the house, likely triggering memories from his past. Unlike the clear symbolism of the river, the significance of the horse remains ambiguous throughout most of the movie, gradually unfolding its message and meaning as the story progresses toward its conclusion.
Before the session where they review the commission's video recording, there's an intriguing scene where sudden heavy rain begins. Despite this, Chris appears entirely unaffected. He stands calmly in the downpour, and later, while seated at a garden table, he remains unperturbed by the rain.
As established by the renowned philosopher, the flowing water symbolizes the ever-changing nature of existence—reflecting Kris's own life as depicted in the early scenes of the movie. The rain carries a profound message: Kris's life, fragmented and scattered, precipitates upon him during this moment of remembrance. However, the reason for his apparent indifference remains unclear and will only unfold as the movie progresses.
As he sits on the porch of his father's house (representing the past), Chris leaves the house on his back and looks at what lies ahead (symbolizing the future). But Amidst the heavy rainfall, he finds himself unable to resist gazing at the objects on the table—symbols deeply intertwined with his past and inner life. These objects hold profound significance, which will become fully illuminated by the film's conclusion.
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