Stalker is a 1979 movie that tells the story of a guide taking a writer and a professor to a desolate, mysterious place called the “Zone”. Is this a vision quest? Hard to say. In some ways, the film leaves you with more questions than answers.

It is a science fiction film, but much more of a spiritual journey than a ‘movie’ in the traditional sense. This film has a deep, soulful power. Ideally, it should be seen on the big screen. If that’s not possible, it is on the Criterion Collection and available to stream on FilmStruck.

Stalker is one of only seven or eight films that directed by the great Andrei Tarkovsky between 1960 and 1986. In his book Sculpting in Time Tarkovsky shares deep insight into filmmaking, art, spirituality and life.

Click here for a brief essay on Stalker.

Trailers:

Railroad sequence (clip):

Clip:

Whole movie on YouTube: