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"Stalker" by Andrei Tarkovsky: Modernity and The Sickness Unto Death

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The Connection Between Desire and Suffering

Desire is deeply connected to suffering since desiring things leads to aversion and attachment, which can result in suffering. Humans often don't truly understand their own desires, revealing a sense of collective and individual immaturity. In the context of the film, the room exposes individuals' most secret and true desires, sometimes contradicting what they consciously think they want. An example is Porcupine, who wanted his deceased brother back but the room revealed he actually desired money more than his brother, leading him to take his own life. This connection between desire, revelation, and suffering holds a deeply spiritual and religious significance.

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