MovieChat Forums > Werckmeister harmóniák (2001) Discussion > What do you think of Tarr's other films?

What do you think of Tarr's other films?

posted 19 years ago by rooprect
9 replies | jump to latest

Ok here's another thread by me. This board doesn't seem to get much action.

Has anyone seen any other Tarr films, particularly Damnation? If so, what did you think of it? I couldn't stand it; I thought it was incohesive and incoherent. And I'm very confused that Béla Tarr could make one movie that I love so much (Werckmeister) and one that I can't stand.

All I can say is that Damnation came 12 years before Werckmeister, and during that time Tarr had a chance to refine and perfect his style & storytelling. As I haven't seen any of his other films, I can't confirm this suspicion. I would love to see Sátántangó (1994), because it would show me if Tarr is truly a master or if he just got lucky.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] rooprect 19 years ago

He's said on numerous occasions that he realised long ago that cinema wasn't about telling stories.

That's interesting; I never knew he took that stance. I thought Werckmeister had such a compelling & creative storyline to it, and that to me was its charm. It's the kind of film you love to describe to people because it's like a bizarro fairytale. Herzog films give me the same feeling; they're slow and very visual, but underneath it all there's a fantastic story.

I agree that cinema isn't necessarily about telling stories. But it's not like a good story hurts the film, either. It can only add to it, like a good melody adds to a musical composition (even though melody is not essential). I'd love to know exactly what Tarr meant when he said that.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Rurik_Snorri 19 years ago

If you can get your hands on Satantango, see it!! There are some scenes that are absolutely amazing. Watching the whole thing however is indeed a herculean feat.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] john-r-davis 18 years ago

Damnation is a very transitional film. It's good, but not nearly as good as Werckmeister Harmonies. My favorite pre-Krasznorkhai(sp?) film of his his The Outsider, which has to be one of the best shot films I've seen in a while.

[–] ltarex 17 years ago

Yeah, I must say too: watch his earlier films, especially "Family Nest" and "The Prefab People". They're in a very different style, much like Cassavettes or cinema veritée.

"A voice from behind me reminds me. Spread out your wings you are an angel."

[–] TemporaryOne-1 17 years ago

I watched Werckmeister first, and was thunderstruck.

I did not believe that any other Tarr film would have the same impact on me.

I then watched Kárhozat (Damnation), and it did not affect me in the same manner as Werckmeister.

But I still decided to watch Sátántangó, and was once again thunderstruck.

I strongly encourage all film lovers to watch Sátántangó.

It is a physically and mentally exhaustive experience, but it is an experience that will either make you spoiled - you will become disinterested and bored and unaffected by virtually everything else you watch (except Tarkovsky's films) - or it will make you forever hate films that deliberately defy technical film standards.

[–] DanCreed 17 years ago

Sátántangó is my favourite film, I strongly recommend you see it. I found Harmonies something of a disappointment in comparison.