10 Movies With Mind-Bending Plots

Science fiction aficionados and cinemaphiles alike will point to Solaris as an important landmark in movie history. The 2002 Hollywood remake, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring George Clooney is a solid entry, but in terms of visual splendour and artistic achievement, the 1972 original is the one to watch.

Russian maestro Andrei Tarkovsky directs. For those yet to encounter this wonderful film-maker, all seven of his feature-length creations are things to be savoured. Tarkovsky has the magic touch, able to pack more pathos and meaning into a single ten-second shot than most movies do over their entire run-time.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by renowned Polish sci-fi writer, Stanislaw Lem, Solaris concerns psychologist Kris Kelvin (played by Donatas Banionis) who is tasked with travelling to a remote space station orbiting the mysterious titular planet. The three scientists manning this station have ceased communications, apparently due to emotional trauma. It is Kelvin's job to investigate and to help.

What follows is an intriguing and astonishing exploration of memory and the nature of reality which will expand your mind and delight your eyes.