- Soderbergh
Only a fool desires poison and loves what is not real. Is it poison that one desires or is the desire poisoning? - DP
Soderbergh's film does a wonder as it explores a very prominent theme in the idea of Love and Desire, hidden desire. Is it not man's dream to have what he desires even if it goes unspoken? And once this desire is achieved, is it really what he wants? This is what the film explores. You take a recently widowed man and put him in an environment that produces what he desires the most, reconnecting with his wife, and what do you get? Human nature. Chris, the protagonist, has failed to let go of the attachment he has for his wife, his hidden desire, and he ultimately loses his life for it, or does he?
'Solaris' can be symbolized as "fulfilled desire," however, the desire which is fulfilled is nothing more than a replica, a copy, of what one truly wants. It does not exist; it will never exist. For unjustified desire will never find fulfillment. As Chris' replica of Rheya is revealed, it is discovered that she is nothing more than an image. Dr. Gordon, Snow, Gibarian, and even Rheya all try to inform Chris that "the thing you are seeing does not exist: only turn aside and you will lose what you love. What you see is but the shadow, image, cast by your imagination, in itself it is nothing. It comes with you, and lasts while you are there; it will go when you go, if go you can." (Narrator from Narcissus). Chris hears their words but accepts his desire. He can't let go. He does not care that "Rheya" is not real, as long as he can be with something/someone that reminds him of her. Ah, but what does he remember? Rheya's first replica was immediately sent away due to Chris' inability to accept what he sees, although, upon second arrival Chris' desires takes over and he spends his time fighting to believe that one, she is real, and two they can be together. However Rheya's second image tries to commit suicide, why? Because that is how she was remembered. Chris could not accept that he remembered is loving wife wrong. Rheya then begs to be sent back to Solaris due to her acceptance that she is not who Chris wants her to be, and although she felt his love, they could not share a life on earth nor on the space station. She disregards saying that they could not be together on Solaris. Why is this? It's as if she wanted Chris to find her in Solaris.
As Dr. Gordon has had enough of her own pseudo desires played upon and departs for earth, it appears that Chris makes the decision to stay on the space station and becomes apart of Solaris, where he finds his chance to have his desire so called, "fulfilled." Dead or alive, he does not care. He is content with having what he believe he wants. Chris is forever lost in the pursuit of his desire.
After analyzing the themes depicted in this film I question, how foolish can one be to hold on to something that tells him that she is not real? How willing is one to give up his own life so that what he desires can be fulfilled? What fuels our passion that we cannot let go? What sense of reality does one have as he indulges in his desire? How can one ignore truth when fiction and reality appear as one?
We will always long for forbidden things and desire what is denied us.
- Froncois Rabelais
I Am Love
- Guagnino
The more and more that we dive into the theme of Love and Desire, I'm discovering that humanity has no true morality. Being ruled by the flesh, some commit suicide, others adultery, and there's a lack of love toward family, as seen in I Am Love. This movie seems very similar to Madame Bovary. A woman is trapped in a marriage with no passion she has no social freedom except the women in her family, and she needs dreams of living a more fulfilling life. However, the only difference is that now, unlike Madame Bovary, Emma's desires seem to be fulfilled, she appears to find her desire being satisfied in Antonio. Ah another tale of a woman finding completeness in the one who takes her away from her troubles and makes love to her to make her happy. How refreshing. (Please note the sarcasm in the previous sentence. This film kind of irritated me).
What is striking about this film is that the fuel for Emma's passion is found in her daughter, Betta. Betta leaves her own relationship to find pleasure in her new found lesbian love. Betta's lack of fear in committing her own sin encourages Emma to have the same boldness with Antonio. Emma takes no thought for actions and considers the notion that since Betta's doing it and is happy, so can I.
Now, it was suggested in the film that Emma and Antonio's relationship was wrong and I completely agree. Reason being, Emma neglects the respect she should have for her son as Antonio should have for his best friend. How might one feel if their best friend whom they love so much and invest so much effort in, started sleeping with their mother? Tragic I tell you. And to think that after Edo, Emma's son, finds out about this she would forget her desire and tend to her child. Surprisingly, Emma tries to justify her actions to Edo and in turn loses her son. Edo dies from not wanting to be touched by such a horrid woman, slips off a ledge, hits his hed on the concrete, and dies. Some might say that it was the blow to the head that killed Edo but I blame Emma's forbidden desire. And to take it a step further, Emma tells her husband, Tacredi, about her love affair immediately after the funeral for Edo. After realizing that she has no life back at her home, she changes her clothes, gets a reassuring glance from Betta and leaves what life she knew behind.
I get that she might've been unhappy, I can sympathize that she wanted her desires to be fulfilled, I can even understand being attracted to Antonio, but to have no regard or caution for her actions is where I draw the line. Is there no one else she could've found fulfillment in? Did she have to let Antonio cut her hair? Did she have to give Antonio her "ukha"? (slaps forehead) If you're going to be promiscuous at least have some class about it. And for goodness sake, would it hurt to actually mourn over your son? I don't even think that Emma was genuinely concerned that her son died. She had a brief moment of melancholy and guilt but then runs back to the very thing that caused his death. Now we are not certain that Emma ran back to Antonio but it is definitely suggested in the film.
//
Oh Desire, How cunning you are, how daring, how brave.
You have no limits on your power and no regard to death.
No regard to life, your ambitions never rest.
Lost in you the lovers are, due to your persuasion that your answer is not far.
Fueled by Passion you can fulfill lives or destroy them.
How wise you are to prey on the hearts of men.
Oh Desire, how destructive you are, so blasphemes. I am ashamed.
- DP
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