10 '70s Sci-Fi Movies You Need To Watch Before You Die
5. Solaris (1972)
The most striking part of Solaris is its mood. There’s an evocatively haunting atmosphere which runs through the movie and automatically transforms you into another world. The opening scene alone is a visual spectacle of beauty, with no music or overpowering graphics – just the simple sounds and appearance of nature. It is a testament to the artistic vision of director Andrei Tarkovsky, one who could almost rival Kubrick for 2001.
As well as being a gorgeous achievement within the realm of science fiction, Solaris touches on many other genres, including romance, tragedy and mystery. A psychologist, Kris Kelvin, is sent to a space station orbiting the planet Solaris.
It is built to occupy eighty people but the station only inhabits three. Upon arrival, Dr Kelvin learns that one of the inhabitants has died. The longer Kris stays on the station, the more odd activity he discovers.
There’s also lots of hidden details in the dialogue and setting of Solaris, which is why it deserves a rewatch in order to fully grasp its imagery and themes.