Stalker

Main Plot

"Stalker" is a science fiction film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, which delves into the journey of three men into a mysterious, restricted zone known simply as "The Zone." The Zone is said to contain a room that grants the innermost wishes of anyone who enters. The three characters, led by the guide known as the Stalker, navigate through the treacherous and enigmatic terrain of The Zone, each driven by their own personal desires and motivations. The Stalker, who respects and reveres The Zone, believes in the transformative power of the room. Accompanying him are the Writer, seeking inspiration, and the Professor, who is driven by scientific curiosity. As they travel deeper into The Zone, the physical and psychological landscapes they traverse grow increasingly complex and challenging, reflecting their inner fears and existential inquiries. The film explores themes of desire, faith, and the human condition, while also questioning the nature of reality and the ethics of manipulating it. Tarkovsky's use of long takes and minimalistic soundscapes intensifies the atmospheric and philosophical depth of the journey, making "Stalker" a profound cinematic meditation on the pursuit of meaning and happiness.

Characters

• Alisa Freyndlikh plays the Writer's wife, a character who supports her husband emotionally, reflecting on the complexities of human desires and existential angst.
• Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy plays the Stalker, a guide leading clients through a mysterious, restricted Zone to a room that grants deepest wishes.
• Anatoliy Solonitsyn plays the Writer, a cynical, self-doubting intellectual seeking inspiration and answers in the mysterious Zone, guided by the Stalker.

Ending Explained

In the concluding sequence of Andrei Tarkovsky's "Stalker," the journey within the mysterious and enigmatic Zone ends as the Stalker returns home with his two clients, the Writer and the Professor. The Zone, a place believed to have the power to fulfill a person's innermost desires, has tested the trio both physically and psychologically. Despite their deep explorations and philosophical debates about life, faith, and desire, neither the Writer nor the Professor chooses to enter the Room where their wishes could be granted, reflecting their ultimate uncertainty and skepticism about their true desires or the consequences of realizing them. Back in his home, the Stalker is disillusioned and despairing, feeling useless and questioning the meaning of his own beliefs and his role as a guide. The film ends with a scene focusing on his daughter, Monkey, who is revealed to have psychokinetic abilities. She sits alone, reciting a poem and moving glasses with her mind, suggesting that despite the skepticism and disbelief of the adults, there is still a presence of unexplainable, mystical power in the world. This scene underscores the themes of faith and the supernatural, leaving the viewer with a sense of ambiguity about the nature of reality and belief.