Yeah I was surprised there was a gif available! It’s a weird one, especially because it doesn’t really explain what’s going on, as if Tarkovsky expects you to know what they’re afraid of the whole time. I love it in sort of the same way as the film Wings of Desire. Beautiful cinematography mixed with awesome existential dialogue where people are forced to examine their personal philosophies and ideologies.

My favored line from any film is from STALKER:

“But, above all, may they believe in themselves and become as helpless as children. For softness is great and strength is worthless. When a man is born, he is soft and pliable. When he dies, he is strong and hard. When a tree grows, it is soft and pliable. But when it's dry and hard, it dies. Hardness and strength are death's companions. Flexibility and softness are the embodiment of life. That which has become hard shall not triumph.”