MovieChat Forums > Solaris (2002) Discussion > The boy - speculation (Spoilers warning)

The boy - speculation (Spoilers warning)

posted 11 years ago by dtravel
6 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching Solaris (2002) and had a thought. I know that the credits list the boy as "Gibarian's Son" but its not like movie makers haven't mislead audiences before. I'm thinking that the boy might have been the child that Rheya aborted.

The only in-movie evidence that it was Gibarian's son is Snow's statement. BUT Snow turned out to be a Solaris manifestation, so its information is to my mind suspect.

Kelvin's Solaris manifestation is based on his loss of his wife. His wife's suicide was in response to their fight over the child/fetus. Given the irrational way the human mind works, I can see Kelvin thinking that "solving" the issue of children with his wife could have stopped the fight. So some part of his subconscious imagined a son.

There is also the issue of Gibarian is dead, so why would his Solaris manifestation still exist? (The problem with this line of speculation is that how would Snow's manifestation still be around to mislead Kelvin? Maybe Snow is Gordon's manifestation! )

At any rate, while its not an important issue for the movie I was just curious about other people's (and other manifestation's too ) thoughts on the idea.

[–] bootblack987 11 years ago

This was mentioned in the DVD commentary that some people thought the boy could be Kelvin and Rheya's child and the response was, "oh...interesting..." So it doesn't sound like that was the director's intention.

[–] cold2005 8 years ago

Oh, well I just saw the film again recently and noticed the kid had large blue eyes just like Rheya, which is why I thought it was Chris' imagining of what their child could have looked like. People mention on this thread it cant be because he hasnt slept yet at that point but do they know for sure they have to sleep for their visitor(s) to appear? Anyway if the director didnt give a nod to it, I guess they didnt intend for that to be. How awesome would it have been though? I only realized it could be their never born child the 2nd time I watched the movie. I love films when they have deeper layers of meaning, things you can only get through repeat viewings.

[–] uncleosbert 11 years ago

Two things conflict with your idea... First, Kelvin sees the kid soon after debarking on the station. This means he just got to Solaris and hasn't slept yet. Second, as you note, obviously Snow's visitor doesn't disappear when Snow dies.

[–] LauraJ1234 10 years ago

The boy is also there to give the viewer a sense of time... we see the child as a newborn in the party flashback, and on the station the child is a few years old.

[–] omoxus 10 years ago

I just want to know. Where da heck did he run off to?

I am the Alpha and the Omoxus. The Omoxus and the Omega

[–] lokis_angels 10 years ago

As you said, the movie provides some 'evidence' for the boy being Gibarian's son, none for him being the aborted child. I am not saying you are wrong, but to me it seems more likely he is Gibarians visitor. He was there before Clooney slept, and Snow knew about him.

However Solaris comes up with a personal visitor it is never suggested that once created the visitor can't go on without the host, so to speak.

Ow, I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?