My innermost desire is that you enjoy this video... and check out my movie notebooks store.nebula.app/collections/maggie-mae-fish/products/maggie-mae-fish-movie-notebook

The Craziest part... Thanos creator, Jim Starlin, along with being a Detorit-boy like myself, he is a Vietnam Navy vet. He created Thanos, originally a nihilist courting death, as a way to manifest his feelings left over from seeing all the death as a photographer. He even got in trouble while serving for writing an anti-war fanzine charter called "Eagle".

You ever get the feeling that you want to leave a comment, but the video was too rich in content that you can't possibly leave a comment that reflects the experience of watching it? This is one of those comments. Next time I'll just write: "I liked the video. Thanks for making it."

That red, white, blue Mickey Mouse Punisher skull is the most cursed thing I've ever seen.

"What's the point of having 500 cereals to chose from if your emotional life is a wasteland?" A distraction.

It's rare to see a politics/film essay that centers the importance of love in a truly deep way. That's only one reason this is such a wonderful video. Thank you.

Maggie dressed in green accompanied by that snake reminds of how I always pictured the villainess of C.S Lewis's Silver Chair Lady of the Green Kirtle

The key moment for me in Stalker was what comes after the group's realisation that the room does not grant you what you want or plan, but what you truly need. The Writer never enters the Room, as his lack of inspiration is just a symptom of his lack of self-knowledge - he can't know what he wants. The Professor never enters, and dismantles the bomb - if the Room truly does grant you your desire and his deepest desire was to destroy the Room, the bomb is actually redundant. Not one of them enters the Room because they are afraid of what their true desire is. And yet, thanks to going through this process of realisation, all three men arguably end up with exactly what they wanted. The Writer understands he was lacking inspiration because he didn't understand himself; he leaves with both inspiration and understanding. The Professor said he wanted to understand the Zone but planned to prevent its misuse by evil men; he leaves knowing it is beyond the whims of evil men, and with some understanding of what the Zone truly is. The Stalker wants to take people to the Zone but laments that people have lost the belief for traversing the Zone and living good lives; three men have safely navigated to the heart of the Zone and back again, and all three have a belief in something beyond them as a result. The Professor and the bomb literalise that thought - you get what you truly desire from the Room, but you do so from the act of reaching and understanding it. Entering the Room is redundant - and as the bomb is thrown away unused, so the Room is never used and even goes unseen. Understanding ourselves is the most powerful thing we have at our sole disposal. So many films, political plans, news angles here are about creating a narrative that suits, and so few challenge the necessity of it. Even when a story is about finding yourself in a narrative you don't control, it is almost always about seizing the narrative for yourself, or finding comfort within it. We are directed to fight the narratives that surround us on their grounds of greatest strength, and told that the correct victory is the one that leaves a narrative redirected but ultimately still in place. Stalker felt important to me as one of the few stories that tells you that you can exist outside of these narratives, so long as you are willing to abandon your narrative of self first. If you understand yourself you don't need to tell stories about yourself to fill that gap, and you find the gulf between you and the narratives that would drag you in is suddenly visible, so visible you don't know why you didn't see it before.

Tarkovsky had another quote about love that has forever stuck in my mind, from his 1973 film Solaris: "We love only that which we are most afraid to lose." And it's true, isn't it? When we say we love something, what we're really saying is that we can't imagine a world without that thing. The level of fear we experience at the thought of this loss is directly proportionate to the amount of love we feel. And I think that's the reason capitalism is on borrowed time in much the same way Soviet communism was in the mid to late 80s: people could and did imagine a world without it.

I saw Stalker being screened in 35MM print that was clearly seized from a Soviet vault at the Chauvel Cinema in Sydney, which is probably the best and worst way to see it.

If only Loki ended with Disney putting Marvel in the public domain, now that's a true multiverse. I think this is my favourite video of yours, it is incredibly dense and yet I could follow along really well. :) Thank you for making it!

I would argue that time travel can be an allegorical representation of the benefits of hindsight, and studying history, especially modern history. We can't go back in time and change the way the decisions after 9/11 unfolded, but we *can* recognize that it was a mistake and endeavor that, when, inevitably, the potential for the next forever war arises, we say 'No'. At any moment we can learn from the past. All we need to do is go back and take a hard, critical look at the past to do it. You know, imagine the past and work out what decisions would have made the present better. Imagine a variant timeline, per say.

Loneliness is the weapon of choice for social control, as you can't have social awakening if everyone is alone in the crowd.

Oh man, the part about patriarchal love hit me so hard. Like, I never actually noticed how freaking weird it is that centring the desire for revenge after a death isn't actually normative. It's specific and kinda creepy when you think about how universal it is

Maggie: “- give you what you m o s t d e s i r e..” My fragile homosexuality: “uh-oh”

Are we sure Maggie isn't the loki in our reality that settled down and made a youtube channel?

In Soviet Russia, film analyses you.

As a trans guy I really needed to hear how love doesn’t equal revenge murder actually really helped because growing up as a dysphoric young trans guy, I internalized a lot of patriarchal ideas like those examples you showed; classic western revenge tales have always been a favourite of mine because of the catharsis it gives me but the whole idea is really harmful when you break it down like that. This was an amazing video overall, so thank you.

I have to say I’ve watched a number of deep and pretentious Russian documentaries on Tarkovsky's work when I was younger in an attempt to understand what he was about. And you are the first who’ve managed to explain it to me clearly and in an accessible language (while using foreign language no less). Thank you again!

It was great to see a list of Loki's influences from someone so far outside my bubble. In here, we're all convinced the series is just a mashup of Control, Cyberpunk, Doctor Who 2005, and Lost, with nobody able to name what influenced those in turn unless it was similarly mainstream.

Tarkovsky making a film in an actually radioactive, toxic environment as a secret meta-commentary on being an artist trying to say something meaningful in the Soviet Union is kind of the ultimate crazy artistic gesture.

Thanks for making this, you reached out and it hit me. As a schizoid shut-in I've told myself most of my life that love is something out of my reach and those grapes are probably sour anyway. These reminders of its central importance, though painful due to my history of failing to find that emotion, help me convince myself to keep trying, even if bashing my head against this wall will kill me eventually. I'd rather die like Tarkovsky than live like Snyder.

Haven't had time to watch the whole video yet, but something I personally consider really valuable about your work is how accessible it is even for someone who doesn't necessarily possess all the jargon used. You have a knack for explaining concepts in a concise and very human way, which I think is an admirable quality to have. Especially considering how alienated I feel discussing some topics with people who simply label their own expertise's jargon as too hard to understand and avoid further discussion, claiming I just don't get it, even if I'm genuinely interested and very open to learning things. Also, a series of inexplicable edits is how I'd describe my general experience going through life.

The TVA building is not only inspired by te San Francisco Hyatt Regency, but was partially filmed at the Atlanta Marriot Marquis, which was designed by the same architecture firm.

“Did you do it? Did you take advantage of people’s emotions and nostalgia to make the tenth film in a franchise that stems back to the 80’s? Just so you could make another dollar?” “…yes…” “What did it cost?” “…*Everything*…”

This videos only been out for a couple days, and so I don't know if it's underperforming, but seeing that it's got significantly fewer views than your Snyder trilogy for example and you didn't get a sponsor for it has worried me enough that I'm doing the engagement things I'm usually bad about doing, because this video was knock down drag out awesome! I hope that you have the chance to make more videos like this in the future! I can't imagine the effort but you're really doing the lord's work here. This was really inspiring!

I wasn’t sure if I’d get anything out of this having seen neither Stalker nor Loki, but I’m happy to be proven wrong. Maggie frequently over-delivers

Okay so that was a masterpiece. The segment on the gulf war answered a lot of questions I unknowningly had.. wow.

As one of the bi weirdos who was born behind the iron curtain in early 70s, but had their halcyon years in the West in the 90s; this feels like MMF dropping a surprise essay on the mise-en-scène of my blimin' life. Umm .. day of the dead just passed... am I dead? I'm ok with eternity in bed watching MMF, but why the hangover universe?

Holy shit, this is the most exciting announcement since the armistice in 1918.

If you haven't, you should read "war is a racket" by general Smedley butler. One of the most decorated marines of all time who's opinion of war changed as he got to the top

Your work deserves more recognition. Your editing is fantastic, your characters are hilarious and your writing is so thoughtful. Thanks for this Maggie, I'm such a fan.

The story of Porcupine is one of the most chilling moments in cinema and has stayed with me for years.

I inherently contradict myself because I hate when films treat the audience like idiots and explicitly explain things to us like we're five, but the more things that are explained I also enjoy (as long as its not too obvious) because it adds depth to the world building aspect. I guess its also difference between an easter egg and a burnt crips omelette lol

Jiminy Christmas youve made a monster of a video maggie, Im hyped to watch it. Ive just loving seeing you grow and continue to make these absolute bangers, it seems you find yourself fulfilled in what you do which is a true rarity these days. But never feel unsure about taking a break if you need it. Your health always comes first!

This was absolutely powerful! Thanks for making this. So much in it, so much to digest, so much to ponder on! Excellent! Save Martha ;)

I saw the runtime and thought “Ooo, is this gonna be too much?” but I was deeply moved by this, and you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.

I'm fairly certain some of the scenes for Loki at the TVA were actually filmed in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, which is by the same guy who did the Hyatt Regency!

There's plenty of diversity & great stories in the Star wars universe. It's just that Disney decided to completely ignore everything other than the original central saga. Just threw out thirty years worth of comics & novels that could have been adapted.

Thank you Maggie Mae Fish for not skimping, not holding back, not falling into being just wacky, and not becoming like the rest of the KZfaq feed. Instead, you instruct, entertain, provoke, and respect these ideas. Thank you!!!

Thank you off the grid grifters, you lead me to a video essay I've waited for. Thank you Maggie Mae Fish for making and publishing both essays. Excellent work!

I can see why you'd make the connection to the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Since, like most Marvel productions, Loki filmed in Atlanta, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis was used as the shooting location for many TVA scenes. Both hotels were designed by neo-futurist architect, and lover of massive atria, John C. Portman Jr..

Regarding the authenticity of the first kiss, I was thinking about something like that for literally half my life. In German, to express one's love you'd say "Ich liebe dich.", yet in regular use of language, the "-e" gets dropped at the end. It gets even more pronounced (HA!) when you factor in dialects. You could have entire conversations in one's dialect only to hear the completely out of place "Ich liebe dich." that just feels copy-pasted into the situation.

This video is so incredibly good that I had to watch it a second time just to be sure I wasn't high the first time. So much food for though and the narrative was knit brilliantly. Man, I wish my brain worked like this. Save Martha.

looking forward to this big time. a quick story: in 2019 i became obsessed with this movie and pushed by ostracization and circumstance started writing my thoughts down about it and it slowly became a white whale that i couldn't say enough about, a nesting doll where each inner doll was bigger than the last not smaller, the lead characters mannerisms started leaking into mine, his perspective and his world verdant meshes of brown and green that i couldn't help but see everywhere (they were draining the lake i live on at the time, further parallels with water in _solaris_ there somewhere) and it became something that crept into my music, so while writing a _stalker_ review i ended up writing a soundtrack for the writing of the review which i am pretty sure only i have been crazy enough to do. now i've seen this movie so much it is easily my favorite movie and whenever someone brings it up its a personal affair, mix of excitement and anxiety because i gave up a piece of me to it, one that was always due to return back so i don't miss it, but i do feel that ineffable hauntedness when someone else picks it up. so like i said, looking forward to this analysis!!! edit: here is the review and music i wrote if anyone felt anything like i did maybe its for you: letterboxd.com/thoughtworm/film/stalker/2/

This is kind of a tangent but that whole thing about the innermost desire got me thinking: If Porcupine went to the room with the intent to get his brother back, if what he was asking for was to get his brother back, why does it matter that it wasn't his innermost desire? If what he chose was his brother, not the money. And if he killed himself over the money, clearly it wasn't his innermost desire. If it had been, wouldn't he have been satisfied? Even if he secretly wanted the money more than he wanted his brother back, he didn't ask for the money and once he got the money he was devastated, not pleased. So what does it even mean that the money was his innermost desire? Or did his innermost desire change as a result of realising what kind of a person he was? But even then, the kind of person he was, was a person who asked for his brother back. I wonder if this anecdote is actually more about the insecurity in your own moral character that Tarkovsky talked about. That we worry that we're only doing good things in order to appear good. But that kind of navel-gazing worry itself is very self-centered and unproductice. Porcupine knew what the right thing to do was. And he did the right thing. Is that not enough? I mean it's still a good story, I just want to engage with the premises

I'm always left so inspired and awestruck at how consistently you manage to out-do yourself with every new video you put out Ms Fish

thank you so so much for making this video. it’s obvious the time, research and effort put into this. the sets are beautiful, i can’t believe i get to just watch this on here

That was refreshing, inspiring, beautiful, thought provoking, and way more than I ever could ask for from a person who puts videos on KZfaq. From the bottom of my heart, thanks for this wonderfully put together take and perspective.

Such a beautiful essay. You convinced me to finally see Tarkovsky's work. I've been stuck in a bit of a "popcorn movie" loop this pandemic, not wanting to engage with anything that challenging. I'll come back to this video later too.

this is officially my favourite youtube video of all time. i love you miss maggie mae fish.

Such a good video, tying very different topics into a work of art. Loved your explanations regarding Stalker as I just recently had seen it. The irony of declaring a 'war on terror' and therefore fighting terror with terror and therefore just creating terror ist astounding.

My life has really been full of Tarkovsky the last couple of weeks, is there an aniversery or something?

Oh jeez this was so much, and really excellent. I'm gonna stare at a wall for a bit now I reckon.

I don't know if this art will "go viral" or make the money it deserves, but it reached out to me, so here I am reaching back. That, I can say for sure.

As a person from Russia, born in 1991 just a few months before SU collapse, and who has spent the last 10-ish years getting my media mostly from USA/UK youtube side of things, seeing a western essay about a Soviet movie maker just stirred something inside my soul. Because, in reality, I am really fucking interested in my past, in the complexity of local politics, and the history, and the culture, and the worldview. But the modern mainstream discussion of these things here are so rooted in either upholding the patriarchal views of the government or in always saying the opposite thing from the propagandists. Any kind of complex, grey zone opinion is viewed as being influenced by "rotting west" from one side, or a spineless sheeple bleating from the other. Watching these things explored by a creator from the other side of the globe, who is just an outside looker, is a fascinating experience. So, what I am saying, I've been sitting in the room for 1 hour and 49 minutes, and I think my greatest desire is to express myself and discuss ideas. But I am very lonely.

that was beautiful, just completely flooring and beautiful.

Enjoyed this video a lot. I've been watching streams of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and I listened to an analysis of Roadside Picnic, and when you got into Loki I just had to pause the video and watch that show too. Still, haven't seen Tarkovsky's Stalker but it's on my list next. Thanks for analyzing these works, I honestly didn't even consider the connection with the Void and the Zone, so I learned a lot. Love your work.

There is a place in my brain where this video was suppposed to fit, I love you for making it

Maggie this has to be one of the best video essays I've seen on the site, you've truly outdone yourself.

Set my reminder and clearing my schedule cause I know it'll be fantastic, love your work

Love this. Absolutely fascinating. It’s so hard for me to not reach for symbolism like I’m taking a Rorschach test when I see Tarkovsky’s striking images. I wish I could tap into what he was going for, experience and emotion.

I'm so glad that I finally got around to watching this video. I've always been fascinated (if not also daunted) by your mode of media criticism. I don't know if it's a matter of approach or just how persuasive and well spoken you are, but your words always end up sticking with me. Thank you for all of the effort and compassion you put into your craft, but also thank you for talking about Stalker to such an extent -- that, for me, was the ultimate treat.

Tarkovsky's words montage cinema gave me pause and cut deep as I am a person who really loves the structure of that kind 'puzzle and riddle' cinema. I might not agree completely with Tarkovsky's implication that montage cinema only contains narrow conclusions and solutions, but it gave me a lot of food for thought.

This was a personally affecting piece for me. I always interpreted Stalker's wish-room as an existential moral horror, forcing you to confront your own potential shortfalls as a worse person than you wished you were. Reframing it as revealing authenticity is more hopeful, so thanks.

In the stalker commentary it is mentioned that Tarkovsky wanted the psychic power scene to happen just as the train goes by and that the glass moving/Monkey's abilities are as ambiguous as everything else. great video.

By far my favorite of all your essays; I do feel less alone. Thank you Maggie Mae for making a weary old man's outlook a little brighter this day.

I can't describe how incredible this video was. Your work has always been exceptional, but this is on a different level. Thank you

It's kind of tangential, but one of things that always stuck with me about Porcupine is that in fulfilling his innermost desire for money, the room reflects the ways in which social context supercede conscious need. Since his brother died on a trip into the Zone, I came away from it with the idea that the brothers were obviously seeking something that would materially fulfill them, and in the absence of that fulfillment, you get the brother's death, and ultimately Porcupine's as a consequence. And then, in Porcupine's case, that absence not only creates further absences in how he loses his brother, but supplants the need he has for his brother with something material. I know that's a pretty obvious read of the events, but it has always been especially tragic and poetic to me. I guess another way of putting it would be that love is transcendent only to the extent that the material world allows for, and if it doesn't, love will be supplanted or subsumed into it's demands. Edit: all of which you just said in the essay lmao

YEAH NEW MAGGIE VIDEO, CAN'T WAIT

This was such a phenomenally well done video essay. Thank you for pouring yourself into this, it very much shows.

Thank you so much for this, and thank you for making these beautiful video essays. I don't have to tell you this, and I think I may have told you once or twice before, but it's rare seeing film analysis this well structured and researched. It really makes all the difference to see someone put this much effort into understanding and then talking about a medium so dear to me. This was a genuinely touching take on both Loki and Stalker, and it made me appreciate both even more than before. Sure, I already loved Stalker, but you also made me see Loki in a new - and way less cynical - light, something about which I'm very happy. Maybe I should watch it again, this time really looking and listening instead of just binging in order to finish it so that I'll be able to understand what's happening in the next movie or series. After all, it really does break the mold to an extent, doesn't it? That is to say, you really made my day, yet again. I wish you all the best. Peace and love from Finland.

This was a super cool video. I never think of movies this way. Movies have always just been something for me to enjoy which is probably why Stalker went way over my head even though I enjoyed watching it for its aesthetic.

I don't think calling Eisenstein a propagandist is all that unfair. Lenin and the Communist party of the USSR correctly identified film as a new and powerful means of ideological propaganda. It's why they invested to heavily into schools and studios to quickly develop the capabilities of Soviet film making. I also immensely enjoy Eisenstein's work, and still choke up at Battleship Potemkin. Leading the audience to the feeling and ideas you wish them to have is still worthwhile...for anything other than consumerism 😅

I don't know if this is the video I wanted to watch, but it sure is the one I needed. What an incredible piece of work. Thank you.

On your statement about not knowing if your art is going to reach anyone, it has reached me time and time again. Thank you for creating. I don't know my hearts innermost desire, but your statement has reminded me of how much I want to create and how much I have put that off.

Consider your leap of faith a triumph cause it seems we all really enjoyed this! :) I certainly did’t think I’d be sticking around for the whole thing but I loved it, really well thought out

Had to watch it in segments, but this was terrific. I didn't know anything about Tarkovsky and my only knowledge about Stalker movie was that it was very weird. Loved you message about love, and it gave me hope that things might change in the future.

I felt compelled to write this: I found your video on Tarkovksky/Loki way more nuanced, moving and layered than I would have thought possible.

also you're a very talented producer, this is very high quality content, good editing, your theatre background is utilized effectively, even the ad read was delivered very skillfully. nice stuff

Apologies for the wall of text! My daughter died 3 years ago at only a few weeks old, after I was extremely ill. My physical and mental health was destroyed as a result, and the me I am now is far removed from who I was. I feel like a different person who just happens to share the same flesh suit. The concept of the magical room in Stalker has me shook. If you put a gun to my head and asked me for my greatest wish, it would be to bring my daughter back from the dead. However, if I was to walk into that room, I dread to think it could give me a different outcome. Would that mean I don't love my daughter enough, or that I value something more? Although in our 'reality' I fully accept there is no way for her to return, as we don't have magical room shenanigans. If I made the wish, but she came back still ill, would I be torturing her? Or as like poor Buffy, would I be stealing her away from afterlife bliss? I'm most terrified at the prospect of my true desire being having my own health back. I have been chronically ill for 3 years now, and feel like a broken down toy. Would that make me a narcissist? So, which would I want? My daughter, or possibly my health? Or something I haven't even copped to. I hope that room never exists, as I don't think I could handle either truth. All this to say, thanks so much for the video Maggie, even if I'll be in existential crisis mode all week.

I hadn't seen Stalker, but watched Solaris. There's so much to dig into here, so thanks!

You pick the best movies and topics, and this one has a voice cameo from Mia too! Really dig it, thank you.

Absolutely amazing. Great depth, great cross-links and through lines, and, on the whole, a great mirror to reflect what me might not normally see about ourselves and the society we have created (and continue to create, most unconsciously). Top, top-notch work!

Easily the best video essay about Tarkovsky I've seen on KZfaq. I certainly can't agree with all the politics this side of KZfaq, but I can really recognize and admire when true effort, research, and thought is put in a video

Soviet Censorship board: "Get out of here, Stalker!"

Another classic! Love your deep, contemplative essays on cinema and the lives we live among cinema and the influences that shape the world at large.

Truly in awe of how you make these videos so insightful and so funny. Love education with some chuckles. Thank you, and everybody in the credits, for all you do.

"yknow like living under the bush admin....but that cant be relevant" *nervously checks timestamp*

WoW!!! References to Ural Polytechnical, Dyatlov Pass and Stalker at the same video?! Were we going to the same E-burg drama club?! Why i am just finding this channel?

I watched it on nebula but had to come to youtube just to tell you - I love you! (and your work :D) That was such a journey.. a tour de force.

I love how this piece of media analysis is basically a video about everything, and it works

According to a Tarkovsky interview, Mircea Eliade's book The Sacred and Profound was a huge influence on Stalker. A stalker was the name for a Shaman at one point in Russian cultures, as the historical character of the shaman was a guide to the underworld or Zone, where what you bring in, is a part your desires and journey. Another take on some aspects of an amazing film. Great video with many layers!

I hope you mention the strugatsky brothers. Nobody ever talks about the book (roadside picnic).

You are such a talented, well spoken person. This was such an incredible piece of work. Thank you so much for making what you do.

Thanks for another great video! Your movie reviews are always so enlightening. I really liked this one. Keep it up nice lady.

In relation to learning about yourself through art: This video made me realise why I have this peculiar kind of nostalgia for the Gulf War and the general aesthetic of the conflict, despite being too young to remember anything about the events as they occured and having absolutely zero interest in war otherwise. I don't mean to sound flippant but it's kind of like a vaporwave sort of feeling? Any other 90's kids get this?

Is that a Mia Mulder in my Maggie Mae joint? Shit's gonna get me lit.

Wow, this was amazing! A whole new level for movie essays. Great video and great work! Very inspiring stuff here

This is one of the best video essays I have ever seen. I am an artist and look to Tarkovsky and Parajanov for inspiration. I am also a fan of the Loki series. (I have a stack of REM CD's I regularly play while painting and have associated Losing my Religion with making art since childhood.) The insights about the relationship between the military industrial complex and Hollywood were disturbing and thought provoking. Now I am curious to rewatch phase 1 and compare the messaging to some of the more recent Marvel films. Anyways I love all your videos and this one in particular has left me rejuvenated and inspired to get to my studio and work. Thank you so much! I will be sharing this with as many people as I can.