JNC THEATER: Solaris

Solaris Highway Scene Tokyo

The 1972 Russian film Solaris is considered one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. It tells the tale of a psychologist sent to investigate the deteriorating mental state of a space station crew orbiting the distant planet of Solaris. Like many sci-fi movies of the era, there are long stretches of footage where nothing seems to happen at all. Luckily for us, one of those extended scenes takes place on a highway in Tokyo and was filmed during the heyday of Japanese nostalgic cars. 

Solaris Highway Scene Tokyo 2

Now imagine you’re a filmmaker living behind the Iron Curtain during the height of the Cold War. What is the most futuristic landscape your borscht-starved Soviet mind can envision? Tokyo, with its skyscrapers, elevated overpasses and light-lined tunnels, must have seemed like another world. Add to that Skylines and Crowns zipping by and you’ve got instant future, no special effects needed. Watch the video by clicking here.

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6 Responses to JNC THEATER: Solaris

  1. John M says:

    Video was blocked, but checked it out on Youtube. Some people were probably checking some form of social media 12 seconds in, but I actually wish it were longer. One of the things I like about driving on the highway is clearing my mind/getting in the zone/insert related cliché. And yes, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a Prince Skyline roll into the shot. I would guess they were on some part of the Shuto Expressway and like Wangan Midnight, it can certainly be hypnotizing at times. Cool post.

  2. Randy says:

    Watched the cyanide98765 version. Cool cars. Wierd freakin’ movie – either version – but a cool clip.

  3. Dave says:

    I love old sci-fi movies! There’s this other ’70s sci-fi movie I once saw–Time After Time–with a 1st gen Accord in it, the hatchback. Sadly, they wreck it in the end, very difficult for me to watch.

  4. Randy says:

    Was that the one where H.G. Wells was chasing Jack the Ripper, and they somehow all wound up in California?

    • Dave says:

      Yes! They all ended up in late-70s San Francisco. The movie’s also a treasure trove of late-70s fashion, which was kinda ugly.

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