Audio Asylum Thread Printer

Get a view of an entire thread on one page

FAQ / News / Events

Films/DVD Asylum

"Satantango" is one of the greatest films of all time.

71.193.162.219

In Reply to: RE: What Bela Tarr would you recommend? posted by PhilJ on September 22, 2010 at 13:19:53

It's very long, but worth every minute of your time.
"Werckmeister Harmonies" may be the most accessible: see this one first.
"Damnation" is fascinating (Susan Sontag, a great Tarr fan, called it the greatest) and it rewards the patient viewer, allowing multiple viewings with increasing pleasure.
The difference between Tarr and most directors is similar to that between poetry and literature. You cannot "rip" through poetry, but rather must slow down, savor each word. That's Tarr. The framing, the physical location of all the elements in the shot, the movement of the camera are all as important as the "action," itself.
I've also enjoyed Tarr's earlier films, but the ones above are his masterworks.

Follow Ups:

Ozu made the slowest films (that readily come to mind) - PhilJ 10:06:13 09/23/10 (2)
that I have seen and really enjoyed. Though his minimalist style was not similar to Tarr it seems.

Funny but "Damnation" looks more 'appealing' to me than "Werckmeister Harmonies" guess I just hate the circus theme (I imagine it would be incidental to the movie itself, more of a set not the heart and soul).

thanks for your time

Phil
- The theme of "Werckmeister" is NOT circus. It is more of a.... freak show and it is - tinear 10:30:48 09/23/10 (1)
  fascinating. Tell you what, watch the first minutes in the bar and see if you can stop watching. I bet you can't! It's as brilliant an opening "speech" as I've seen.
  "Damnation" is a harder film; the opening is brilliant, too, but one must be keenly aware of the "moment."
  Anyhow, I'd start with "Werck" and work my way up to "Damnation." Curiously, "Satantango" is the most accessible (it is highly ironic to use this term in reference to any of his films but.....) but it's vast length may be too much for the beginning Tarrian.
  If you appreciate Ozu (and Tarkovsky, perhaps?), Tarr may be your man. He is unlike any other filmmaker and of how many can that be said? A singularly original vision, cinematically and philosophically.
  - thanks - will do, Werckmeister it is! - PhilJ 11:48:37 09/23/10 (0)
    .
    Phil

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: