Solaris was first a 1961 novel by Stanislaw Lem (which I have not read), then a 1972 film by Andrei Tarkovsky, and most recently a 2002 film by Stephen Soderbergh. I saw the 2002 film several years ago, maybe as many as five or six years. I knew nothing about it and just picked it off the shelf at Blockbuster because it looked like it might be an interesting and well-made sci-fi movie, without monsters, blood, and gore. I liked it—it was indeed interesting and well-made—but don’t remember being really enthusiastic.
Sometime within the past year or so I saw the Tarkovsky version and found it interesting but a little frustrating. I thought I had reviewed it here but apparently I didn’t; at least I can’t find the review. I do remember some discussion in the comments that made me want to see the Soderbergh adaptation again.
So a few nights ago I did, and was much more impressed. I recommend it. It really is very beautifully done. I can’t think of another science-fiction film that is such a visual pleasure, except for 2001, which seems to have been an influence. And the themes are powerful, more elemental than 2001’s: loss, remorse, second chances, and most of all the longing for forgiveness and eternal love. It would be a mistake to claim (as Christians are sometimes over-eager to do) that it can be appropriated entirely as a Christian work. But the longings it gives voice to are those to which the faith speaks.
I found the end quite moving and am probably going to watch the whole thing once more before sending it back to Netflix. It occurs to me that the number of movies I’ve watched more than once is probably not more than two dozen, and I wonder if there are others that would reveal more on a second and third viewing. I don’t expect to make a firm judgment on a piece of music until I’ve heard it several times, and most movies don’t merit that much attention, but perhaps I should give another chance to those that seem to have some substance but don’t really grab me on one viewing.
Light On Dark Water 
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