Steven Soderbergh's desire to remake Andrei Tarkovsky's legendary sci-fi film was questioned by some at the time, but the result stands on its own merits. Tighter and decidedly shorter than the two-and-a-half-hour Tarkovsky original, Soderbergh's version features George Clooney as the clinical psychologist who is sent to investigate the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a distant planet, only to be confronted by his deceased wife (Natascha McElhone), seemingly now in the peak of health. The other crew members, played by Viola Davis and Jeremy Davies, also experience unexplained phenomena.
Lem 2021: I've Seen the Future
A Stanisław Lem Centennial Screening Series
April 29–June 10
To mark the centennial of Polish literature icon Stanisław Lem (1921–2006), Poland has declared 2021 the "Year of Stanisław Lem," with dozens of events and artistic projects being organized to mark the occasion across the world. In collaboration with the Polish Film Festival Miami and the Embassy of Poland in Washington, DC, AFI Silver is proud to present a selection of five films inspired by Lem's work.
Perhaps best known worldwide as the author of the 1961 novel, "Solaris," Stanisław Lem produced dozens upon dozens of novels, stories and essays throughout his nearly 60-year career. Renowned particularly for his work in the realm of science fiction, Lem's artistic output covers a plethora of genres, encompassing memoirs, accounts of his wartime experiences and philosophical texts. His science fiction narratives themselves often take unexpected and experimental forms, extending freely into the territories of philosophy and satire to create worlds that to contemporary eyes eerily prefigure everything from Google to virtual reality and smartphones.
This series spotlights some of the many eclectic, cinematic adaptations of Lem's work, from filmmakers as diverse as Andrei Tarkovsky (SOLARIS [1972]) and Andrzej Wajda (ROLY POLY) to Ari Folman (THE CONGRESS) and Steven Soderbergh (SOLARIS [2002]).
Presented by the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, the Polish Film Festival Miami and the Embassy of Poland in Washington, DC. For all films screening online in AFI Silver's Virtual Screening Room, click here. For films screening online via the Polish Film Festival Miami, visit movies.pffmiami.com.
- Year2002
- Runtime99 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- RatingPG-13
- DirectorSteven Soderbergh
- ScreenwriterSteven Soderbergh, from the novel by Stanisław Lem
- ProducerJames Cameron, Jon Landau, Rae Sanchini
- CastGeorge Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Jeremy Davies, Viola Davis, Ulrich Tukur
Steven Soderbergh's desire to remake Andrei Tarkovsky's legendary sci-fi film was questioned by some at the time, but the result stands on its own merits. Tighter and decidedly shorter than the two-and-a-half-hour Tarkovsky original, Soderbergh's version features George Clooney as the clinical psychologist who is sent to investigate the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a distant planet, only to be confronted by his deceased wife (Natascha McElhone), seemingly now in the peak of health. The other crew members, played by Viola Davis and Jeremy Davies, also experience unexplained phenomena.
Lem 2021: I've Seen the Future
A Stanisław Lem Centennial Screening Series
April 29–June 10
To mark the centennial of Polish literature icon Stanisław Lem (1921–2006), Poland has declared 2021 the "Year of Stanisław Lem," with dozens of events and artistic projects being organized to mark the occasion across the world. In collaboration with the Polish Film Festival Miami and the Embassy of Poland in Washington, DC, AFI Silver is proud to present a selection of five films inspired by Lem's work.
Perhaps best known worldwide as the author of the 1961 novel, "Solaris," Stanisław Lem produced dozens upon dozens of novels, stories and essays throughout his nearly 60-year career. Renowned particularly for his work in the realm of science fiction, Lem's artistic output covers a plethora of genres, encompassing memoirs, accounts of his wartime experiences and philosophical texts. His science fiction narratives themselves often take unexpected and experimental forms, extending freely into the territories of philosophy and satire to create worlds that to contemporary eyes eerily prefigure everything from Google to virtual reality and smartphones.
This series spotlights some of the many eclectic, cinematic adaptations of Lem's work, from filmmakers as diverse as Andrei Tarkovsky (SOLARIS [1972]) and Andrzej Wajda (ROLY POLY) to Ari Folman (THE CONGRESS) and Steven Soderbergh (SOLARIS [2002]).
Presented by the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, the Polish Film Festival Miami and the Embassy of Poland in Washington, DC. For all films screening online in AFI Silver's Virtual Screening Room, click here. For films screening online via the Polish Film Festival Miami, visit movies.pffmiami.com.
- Year2002
- Runtime99 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- RatingPG-13
- DirectorSteven Soderbergh
- ScreenwriterSteven Soderbergh, from the novel by Stanisław Lem
- ProducerJames Cameron, Jon Landau, Rae Sanchini
- CastGeorge Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Jeremy Davies, Viola Davis, Ulrich Tukur