"Solaris" part 2

“Solaris” is a complex movie. Like a house of unconventional architecture with many doors to enter and each person going inside sees something else. Show “Solaris” of Steven Soderbergh to 10 persons and we will hear 10 different interpretations, explanations and opinions.
This makes “Solaris” such an interesting film because it seems that the influence of the planet “Solaris” also is effective on the audience. The film becomes what the spectator imagines. Exactly like Chris Kelvin was imagining his deceased Rheya.

When the crew of the spaceship eventually has figured out a way to destroy the real-life persons appearing from their dreams, an action opposed by Kelvin, they urgently want to return to Earth. They know that the main spaceship “Prometheus” will fall and crash on the planet “Solaris” but they can escape with the smaller spaceship “Athena” with which Kelvin had come.
When they are about to leave, after much inner struggle, Kelvin decides to stay in “Prometheus”. He knows he will probably die but he simply cannot leave Rheya behind. Rheya who he knows doesn’t exist anymore. Who is only a memory now.
Before, his friend Gibarian has told him: “There are no answers. There are only choices”. Kelvin has no idea how Rheya could exist. Even being a psychologist, he cannot find the answer to that question. But he can choose to be with her or not.
The spaceship crashes and Kelvin becomes a clone himself and is reunited with Rheya in the same situation as they were back on Earth. Living together in his apartment. Before they lovingly embrace, Rheya says: “Everything is forgiven”.

In relationships there are projections and expectations. The ideal would be like in “Solaris”. The person dreams the partner to be beautiful, kind and caring and that is how it is. Of course, Rheya was complaining that she was not who she used to be. She was as he dreamed her.
Kelvin made the choice to become like his second Rheya. The person coming from her dreaming.
Kelvin sacrificed himself in order to be with her and have the love between them come back.
That is the forgiving. To forgive the other person to imagine you in another way than you are. Once a couple can forgive, there is acceptance and love can flourish.

Some years ago, Michel Szulc Krzyzanowski was in a large, modern shopping mall in Riverside, California. A friendly man approached him and told they wanted to ask some questions. The request was made with an intensity and conviction making him go with the man without hesitation. They walked together towards a wall and to his amazement they were able to merge, to blend into that wall and come out on the other side. He saw a large room with small tables where people were being interviewed. He was seated at a table and a friendly man came to sit opposite from him. The man explained they were from another planet. And they had come because for them we humans had a capability they didn’t have and couldn’t understand. It was the ability to fall in love and to love. The man asked: “Please explain us this”. He thought about it and replied: “Sorry, but I cannot give you an answer. It is something what happens and why and how we don’t know either”.

There is another reason why the film “Solaris” made by Soderbergh is so fascinating. It is the score. Composed by Cliff Martinez, it is highly hypnotic music. It is music that can also be enjoyed without seeing the movie. While lovingly embracing and forgiving everything.