stalker sequel
Dec. 14th, 2009 04:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wytchcroft
Reading Tarkovsky’s diaries once again, it’s interesting to me to read that at one stage he considered a sequel to Stalker. The proposed continuation would see the Stalker turning into a messianic figure, forcibly dragging people to the wishing room. Can, Tarkovsky wonders, people be thus bullied into happiness?
The stalker would become a ‘votary’ and ‘fascist’ (Tarkovsky’s labels).
Of course, this idea was not pursued – perhaps Andrey realised that such contradictions are already implied within the thematic narrative of Stalker. Best to leave the resonance and the questioning to the audience…
Such a concept, especially the religious dimension show the great difference between Tarkovsky and the Strugatsky brothers, of whom he notes, amusingly, that one is very clever and the other very… hardworking. Before quickly catching himself, ‘Well, things are not as simple as that’. Both men he describes as likeable and their relations seem to have been good.
As for Tarkovsky himself, as for his diaries, I remember why I have not read them in so long; the man and his own story seem encompassed by the Zone. A man should live in isolation, he notes, close to animals and nature. And yet, such is not the case for him. He is close only to the telephone. Isolated by distance he frequently misses his loved ones intensely.
The diaries as a whole, as a piece, as a story – revolve around waiting for that dreadful phone to ring; to give the green light to a project, to vindicate his work, to allow him freedom, travel – or to summon him at once before the Committee, the critical Party of whom he has such regular nightmares. Communication so often breaks down, attempts to organise filming and its logistics, or even simply a stay with Bergman, that the phone (or the letter) becomes entirely untrustworthy and unreal.
The emphasis that the diaries place on this cannot be accidental – the phone (in all its forms) becomes the God that Tarkovsky wrestles with and defines himself against – never quite answering that most Bergmanian of questions; what is worse, God’s silence or the terrifying realisation of His voice?
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Date: 2009-12-14 05:11 pm (UTC)Therefore I feel like Tarkovsky should be closer to Boris than to Arkady...
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Date: 2009-12-14 06:39 pm (UTC)I hope to read more by hem quite soon.
Tarkovsky's diaries are very compelling, but not an 'easy' read.
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Date: 2009-12-14 07:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 07:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 07:45 pm (UTC)But they were my joy and pleasure and a sectret place for retreat, I'd say, but still without loosing connection with reality - and they actually put a lot into me - great and strong thing as much as weak and delusious, but they really do mean a lot for me :)))
and I'm afraid of Tarkovski movies :(((
so strange... so painful...
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Date: 2009-12-14 10:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 05:12 pm (UTC):)
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Date: 2009-12-14 06:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 09:22 pm (UTC)is his diaries translated - into English?
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Date: 2009-12-14 09:58 pm (UTC)and yes, the diaries are in English, a very nice edition. :))
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Date: 2009-12-14 10:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-14 10:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-15 12:25 am (UTC)And just as Bergman could dread the Spider God (it's in Persona also) so too Tarkovsky and the sense of dread within the Wishing Room... and the sheer alien-ness of the Solaris entity.
Just as the spider may come from the woodwork for poor Karin, so the dreadful phone can ring in Stalker and without warning or logic.
Ultimately i would say that Tarkovsky and Bergman despite their ambivalence (expressed through lost and wandering and/or damaged characters) are ultimately looking for contact and healing. Tarkovsky sees this is being paramount for humanity as much as any individual.
Of course the works contain more than this - i don't intend a reductionist reading. And the saddest part of Tarkovsky's early death is that his dialog was cut short - Bergman was privileged to be able to use film as a means to wail, celebrate, and contemplate even into old age.
and doesnt interfere in natural selection.
Date: 2009-12-15 01:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-16 02:00 am (UTC)Roughly speaking, in the Strugatsky brothers' prose there is much from Hemingway stoutness of life (even Redrick's pages).
Tarkovsky wraped the story in pseudo-documentary cover (scenes with Alice). Sometime it is seemed that story is told by Writer, sometimes by Professor, sometime by Stalker. But a true witness is above all ;)
anyway, I see such concept :)
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Date: 2009-12-16 02:06 am (UTC)yes, well put - the Brothers and their attitudes are much more robust and pragmatic than Tarkovsky and the protagonist of his film.
//that story is told by Writer, sometimes by Professor, sometime by Stalker.// yes a trinity of voices, each a part of Tarkovsky himself i feel.
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Date: 2009-12-16 02:13 am (UTC):))
actually, Tarkovsky could use any other chapter/part (and characters) from the novel.
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Date: 2009-12-17 04:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-17 06:47 pm (UTC)i've written about Stalker (aka Zone) elsewhere in my lj just because it always blows me away (like Solaris also). :))
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Date: 2009-12-17 06:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-17 06:56 pm (UTC)(always nice to see a Solomin icon btw!)
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Date: 2009-12-17 06:57 pm (UTC)Icon was made by kcscribbler--you are most welcome to use it but please credit her if you do ;) She's done many other icons from the Russian SH series--look in her LJ ;)
Cheers,
Cat
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Date: 2009-12-17 08:06 pm (UTC)Hmm... i might have to dig out my laughing solomin pic again...
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Date: 2009-12-17 06:52 pm (UTC):)
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Date: 2009-12-17 06:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-17 08:07 pm (UTC)