The search for truth

[sushik3]

It seems to me that a lot of this movie is not about the search for an escape, or for the fufillment of their deepest wishes, but about the search for truth. And why could those things not be related? We often put are deepest wishes in the truth. We all hope that when the truth is revealed, we shall be revealed to be more than animals. Many of us hope there is a god, and thus a heaven, and a purpose.

Also, the money, religeos icons, and hypodermic needles on the floor are not just ways of escape, but also ways we seek to fing the truth.

The scientist, writer, and Stalker all have different ways of searching for the truth as well. The scientist believes only in hard facts. The writer is a cynic, but he finds his way through abstracts. And the Stalker, is some ways symbolizing the common man, believes in faith.

In this way, it is interesting to note the order in which the three travel. Often times, the scientist goes first, as is often true with the course of human advancements. He is followed by the writer. Then comes the common man. Some times the writer goes first, and the scientist follows. This is also often true in history too. The stalker always goes last, and, as the common man, is often concerned which way the scientist and writer are taking him. He also sets the path, turns the scientist and writer towards new advancements. Often times the scientist and writer seem to go to far for the stalker as well. It may also be signifigant that the hardest part of the journy towards truth must be taken by the writer. There are no hard facts here.

[MaKS]

I would call Stalker a believer for this case... In the end, the artist enlightens, the scientist goes confused, the believer gets angry and frustrated (look the "Stalker II" thread). And now, when believers of all kinds are so enthusiastically unrest, where, oh where's the Writer?..

[Pauk]

My own Teacher chose to go away on the 18th of February, being 40 years old. I believe, in order not to turn into a kind of Porcupine. He found his only truth - there's no way back when you have reached your threshold. Now it's just me and the Zone.

[The Ferret]

I would not call the Stalker a "common man", since he's a visionary, and common men are *NOT* visionary for definition.

To be a visionary doesn't mean that you're ALTERING the reality behind yourself - rather, you're "stretching out" the TRUTH which lurks inside the fabric of reality. The truth reveals, but ONLY in your mind.

The Stalker is a visionary... the common man is a walking dead.

[blue]

The Stalker is a visionary... the common man is a walking dead


And that is why it is so painful to be a visionary – having to spend your life among the dead…

[MaKS]

...While the Zone is the land of life, however dangerous it be.

[birdland]

it seems like the stalker is an allegory for an artist, which could easily apply to tarkovsky. Its clear from his books that it bothered him quite a bit that he would put everything he had into his films and yet he was surrounded by 'the dead' who did not understand or appreciate them. The process of making films is quite a bit like travelling through the zone - wrought with hazards and traps - the director must be able to focus and excercise caution or his career and/or life will end as a result. It seemed like the process of creating art was something tarkovsky was deeply fascinated with (see rublev or course), and I wonder if this film isn't meant (in part) to be a less direct examination of this...