Stalker story
The film tells the story of an expedition led by a figure known as the "Stalker", who takes his two clients—a melancholic writer seeking inspiration, and a professor seeking scientific discovery—to a mysterious restricted site known simply as the "Zone", where there supposedly exists a room which grants a person's innermost desires. The trio travel through unnerving areas filled with the debris of modern society while engaging in many arguments.
23 total · 3 choice · 5 major · 15 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| despair | choice | We heard that only the most wretched people who have lost all hope, have any chance of making it to the magic room. |
| hope | choice | The Stalker explained how the magical room in the Zone gave people hope and that the Professor would be wrong to blow it up even though it would be dangerous if some unscrupulous person made it to the room and was granted their wish. |
| is there a purpose to life | choice | This was explicitly discussed at one point while the three explorers were resting. It also seems central to all the dark brooding that went on. |
| commoner vs. intellectual | major | The story concluded with a disheveled Stalker complaining about those idiotic intellectuals, Professor and Writer. |
| depression | major | The Writer's reason for going the Zone was that he was bored and lacked inspiration. |
| risk taking vs. playing it safe | major | Stalker discussed the risky enterprise with his wife; later Stalker argued with Writer about taking risky shortcuts. |
| the thirst for knowledge | major | The Professor went to the Zone ostensibly seeking scientific discovery. |
| working together under stress | major | The three explorers had to overcome various minor and major disagreements and continue onwards together. |
| agility vs. strength | minor | There was a lengthy soliloquy that concluded with "what has hardened, will not win", implying that flexibility is what is needed. |
| artist vs. scientist | minor | Writer spoke to Professor about the differences in their professions. |