Soderbergh's version of ``Solaris'' A visual poem filled with a sense of loneliness

Close Encounters of the Third Kind drawn by science fiction master Rem

First, I would like to briefly review the overview of Solaris. This novel was originally published in 1961 by Polish science fiction writer Stanisław Lem, and is set in a future where space exploration has advanced. 100 years have passed since the planet Solaris was discovered, and humans have hypothesized that the ocean that covers Solaris is a large living organism, and have continued research to unravel the mystery.

The main character, Kelvin, is dispatched to a space station floating in orbit around Solaris, and upon arrival, he is surprised to find the station inside a strangely dilapidated situation. One of the three researchers is dead, one is locked in his room, and the other is saying mysterious things. When Kelvin wakes up after a further sleep, he finds his ex-lover Harry (his wife Leia in Soderbergh's version), who was supposed to be dead, by his side. Apparently, it's not a ghost or an illusion, but a copy materialized from Kelvin's memories by Solaris, who has some kind of will. Other researchers also had their own visitors...

"Solaris" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

The story progresses based on two pillars: the mystery of the complex and overwhelming existence of "Solaris" and the ethical conflict surrounding the "existence like an ex-lover" created by Solaris.

For Rem, the theme of this story was ``encounter and exploration of unknown beings beyond human comprehension.'' Why did Solaris regenerate Harry and send him to Kelvin? The reason for this is never revealed, and there may not even be a reason at all. The station's researchers are at their mercy, confused, and somehow manage to bring the situation under control. Will they find peace or solitude? Even so, Kelvin believes in ``the existence of something beyond human ethics and emotions,'' and sees a possibility akin to a glimmer of hope in staying in Solaris.

Original author Rem complained about the film adaptation