s o l a r i s, 1972 🎬 dir. andrei tarkovsky 'Hari'

Andrei Tarkovsky and Natalya Bondarchuk on the set of Solaris, 1972

Natalya Bondarchuk in Solaris (1972)

In an example of life imitating art, she revealed in a 2010 interview that she fell in love with Tarkovsky during filming and became suicidal after their affair ended. She claims that her decision was partly influenced by her role:

“One day [Andrei] told me that he felt like he had given birth to me. That he loves me tenderly and faithfully. As a soulmate - ‘we are the same sea of fish.’ Although I understood that when we return to Moscow, our romance would end. Andrei was met at the airport by his wife and son...

I couldn't only be a mistress, I was a maximalist - either all or nothing. Andrei understood that. But I was so used to the fact that we exist together that when this connection broke, I was desperate. I cut my veins. Now I regard this terrible act as a big sin. But at that moment there was absolute despair.

Especially since in Solaris I played Hari, a suicidal woman. It left an imprint on my psyche. Actors are not free from their roles. I developed Hari syndrome in my life. I had to be next to Andrei, otherwise I couldn't live. He understood it and felt responsible for me.

When we finished the picture, he took me, like a girl, to the editing room, to the recording studio, where my presence was not necessary...

But it's very difficult to love a married man. In general, this is a sad story for me, it ruined my family life. The story is bloody and hopeless in any development... After this fatal love, I went to church and was baptized.”

Solaris, Hungarian lobby card. 1972

Solaris

directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972

Happy 73rd, Natalya Bondarchuk.

With Donatas Banionis in Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris (1972).

Eduard Artemyev, Natalya Bondarchuk, and Andrei Tarkovsky on the set of Solaris, 1971.

Donatas Banionis and Natalya Bondarchuk, Solyaris (USSR, 1972 dir: Andrei Tarkovsky).

Wishing a happy birthday to Soviet actress and Solaris star Natalya Bondarchuk!

s o l a r i s, 1972 🎬 dir. andrei tarkovsky 'Hari 2'

-  Солярис

Over the last few days I have been sick in bed, so I watched the Andrei Tarkovsky version of Solaris. I loved everything about this movie and I am ashamed it has taken me this long to getting around to watching a Tarkovsky film. I also watched Ad Astra and whilst both films explore the human condition, particularly in relation to placing a career ahead of relationships and love, it was Solaris that left me emotionally turning the film over and over in my head. What did I like? I liked how everything is grubby. From the get go Kris Kelvins' (Donatas Banionis) white trews are a bit muddy and dirty. The space station is a total dirty mess, the corridors and cabins filled with detritus. No one cares anymore. This is brilliant. And then there is Hari teaching them all what it is to be human and that is the relationships, and community we have with each other than makes us human. We just have to listen.

Solaris, Hungarian lobby card. 1972

Natalya Bondarchuk on the set of Solaris (1972)