Just watched Stalker by Tarkovsky a few days ago. I assume it might be something of a well known movie for the community here, I don't really know but it was a masterclass for me in script, cinematography and composition. My real question I guess; cause I haven't researched anything about the author or the movie itself, is how they managed to get those kind of locations. I guess it wasn't that hard inside the URSS.
this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2026
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Here's a list of tons of leftist movies.
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Its a great film. I really like Mirror as well so I'd recommend that next. Its also shot wonderfully.
The locations from stalker are amazing, but unfortunately some of them were actually toxic and it's assumed that's what caused Tarkovsky's cancer.
Tarkovsky got pretty much all he would ask for to make his films, but if you want to see a real "blank check" type film, the multi part War and Peace adaption is unbelievable in how much they were given to do it.
The USSR was a great place to be an artist tbh, even considering certain limitations.
I just showed this for one of our movie nights! Tarkovsky is one of the great Soviet directors. Long shots, lots of water, beautifully composed. Solaris (1971?) and Andrei Rublev (1966) are great if you're looking for more by him.
Stalker was filmed in and around Tallinn, IIRC. The shoot was downstream of a chemical plant and an abandoned hydroelectric plant. As for how they got (access to?) those locations, Soviet filmmakers could do all kinds of stuff one couldn't in the studio system. There's some interviews with Tarkovsky about the creative process there.
They actually shot the film once, but it got developed incorrectly, so they had to shoot the entire film from scratch.
A rewatch, but Embrazo de Serpiente. Already a classic to me. Its one of those heart of darkness type movies but its an indigenous man exploring capitalism.
El Abrazo de la Serpiente is so good! It's so rare to see an indigenous story told well. When the filmmakers screened it for the cast and their tribes, they liked it so much they watched it a second time. That's all I needed to know to see it. Roughly based on a true story, too.
Watched Wonder Man, it was fun. Helps that it's like 99% "a struggling actor hangs out with Ben Kingsley while shenanigans ensue," and only 1% superhero shit. The overarching villain is also literally
hinting at the ending
the prison industrial complex, but of course it's still the MCU so there's no actual structural solutions, just vague gesturing at how bad it is while the protagonists ultimately "win" using super powers.
A cool bird Hymenops perspicillatus
Rewatched Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990) and the two Devilman OVAs (87,90)
I have Buffet Infinity, and will probably watch it tonight.
Also in the lineup are:
Freemont
Nightborn
Stop! That! Train!
The Souffleur
Your Monster
There's not much to it other than the premise, but it's actually pretty funny and worth the time. It was also a fun snapshot of its time for me personally
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
Just started season 2 of Sugar. Collin Ferrell plays a sensitive guy PI committed to nonviolence with an amazing twist.
Do not look at even official trailers because they spoil the fuck out of it.