The sci-fi noir film that shaped Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’
There is no doubt that Denis Villeneuve is the modern-day master of science fiction cinema. From his breakthrough international picture Arrival to taking over the reins of the ‘Blade Runner’ series from Ridley Scott to finally delivering on a ‘Dune’ movie that actually makes sense, the Canadian visionary has a natural affinity for the otherworldly. His ability to ground outlandish stories in very relatable, very human stories has made him incredibly famous. Best of all, you get the idea he’s nowhere near done.
In terms of recognition and financial success, Villeneuve’s biggest achievements are easily Dune and Dune: Part Two. With Timothée Chalamet leading the way as the skinniest chosen one you’ve ever seen, these adaptations have breathed new life into Frank Herbert’s classic works and have been showered with praise, awards, nominations, and box office glory alike. With a third picture due to begin filming soon, fans are on the edge of their seats waiting to see what will happen on Arrakis next.
As well as the original books, the director looked to various other sources of inspiration for his sandy epic. The story closely follows that of Jesus Christ, so it’s no surprise that Villeneuve has drawn on two major productions based on the Bible, Franco Zefferelli’s Jesus of Nazareth and Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ. However, when it comes to the sci-fi elements of the ‘Dune’ universe (Dune-iverse?), one director stands head and shoulders above the rest.
In an interview with BBC Film, Roger Deakins, the legendary cinematographer who’s worked with Villeneuve on three films, compared him to the Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky. This was brought up in contrast to a different claim that Villeneuve was more like Stanley Kubrick, considering his long-established love for 2001: A Space Odyssey. “One of the best science-fiction films ever made is Solaris,” Deakins explained. “It’s a much more thoughtful film than 2001, because it’s about character. It’s not about amazing special effects.” This is much more in line with the modern-day maestro, who has been able to successfully marry stunning visual effects and compelling narratives.
Solaris isn’t the Tarkovsky movie that is most represented in Dune, however. Released in 1979, Stalker follows a group of men traversing a mysterious wasteland with the hope of reaching ‘The Zone’, an enigmatic place that allegedly has the power to grant a person’s strongest desire. Completing the film was a mammoth task, with some even claiming that it contributed to the director’s death less than a decade later. It remains a beloved piece of work, however, and has clearly had an impact on our friend Denis.
In his list of ‘10 Great Movies to Watch If You Liked Dune’, Guillermo de Querol of Taste of Cinema noted the similarities between Tarkovsky’s anti-Cold War demonstration and Villeuneve’s high-concept adventure. “Stalker drives home a simple but powerful message,” he writes. “Faith, love and altruism are mankind’s redeeming qualities, and it’s upon ourselves to live by them.” He also noted that, like Dune, Stalker is a movie ‘where the journey far outweighs the destination.”
Stalker and Dune are both narratives that shouldn’t work on film, but really do. It’s a testament to both directors that they were able to pull off their respective feats, even if one did have a little help from the other.
