Stalker - A Slow-Burn, Spiritualistic, Science-Fiction Masterpiece

MOVIE DISCUSSION:

Stephen McFerron, Cinematic Doctrine's newest contributor (read him here!), joins Melvin to discuss Stalker, the popular Andrei Tarkovsky science-fiction classic!

Topics:

• Introducing Stalker is equally simple (three men travel through a zone to find a room that grants one's greatest desire) and complex (constant philosophical debate, ruminations upon the terror of desire, and the intimidating presence of The Zone).
• Stephen, "I think it's about evangelism and the Christian walk - to some degree."
• Stalker is not only literally long, coming in at 162-minutes, it also can feel long with exceedingly drawn-out sequences, but Melvin feels these moments imitate the mundane periods in our life that help us think.
• The Zone that our characters traverse is not only depicted like a character itself, but a deity as well.
• The Zone demands respect if what it has to offer is to be obtained, something one may consider is similar to God Himself.
• Spiritualism and Christianity were largely prohibited in Russian film and art during 1979, and yet Tarkovsky cleverly depicts Christian symbolism, strife, and meditations throughout Stalker's runtime.
• One of Melvin's favorite aspects of Stalker is the two brief reprieves where characters sit down and talk directly to the audience, exposing their soul through poetic raison d'être.
• Melvin, "Stalker really wrestles with the concept, "You may think you know what you want, but what you want may not be what you wanted.""
• Evangelism is often a painfully slow, seemingly fruitless process. And yet it often helps orient the evangelist to God first and foremost, despite its subject being the Godless.
• Getting into the final monologue of the film delivered by the Stalker's wife, which kills Melvin.
• Sometimes with evangelistic pursuits we neglect to focus on one of our most rewarding responsibilities: the family.
• God permeates not just the spectacular but also the mundane. Is that not also joyful?
• Melvin believes there's a severe criticism of industrialization through a particular B-theme of Stalker.
• It seems there's a perpetual frustration between Russian artists and the Russian government. Stalker definitely includes some of that cultural tension.

Recommendations:

• The Criterion Channel (Streaming Service)
• Elden Ring (Game)