Anybody cares for Bela Tarr?

KindGrind · Post by **KindGrind** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:58 pm

I've been into films for many years now. Werckmeister Harmonies is one of my 5 favourite movies of all time, only topped by Kieslowski's Blue.

So the question is: has anybody seen Werckmeister Harmonies? If so, how did you find it, and what other movies do you enjoy?

MX7 · Post by **MX7** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:01 pm

Why would you pick blue over red??

KindGrind · Post by **KindGrind** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:52 pm

I liked them both very much, but Blue just worked 100% with me. I couldn't care enough for the characters in Red (the guy spying his neighbours, mostly), although I thought the idea of intertwining the lives of the protagonists of Blue and White was genius. A very short nod to the other movies, but an interesting one.

Binoche was astounding in Blue, and so was the cinematography -equalled in Red, I must admit- and the music. Thinking about it gives me goosebumps everytime! Mostly the scattered notes and phrases throughout the movie that would form the final symphony... Anyways, great stuff.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:54 am

I've seen parts of Tarr's Satantango. It's not really a movie you watch in one sitting (since it's like 6 hourse long), or that you have to watch in entirity at all. I thought it was quite great though.

And yeah, Blue > Red

Red is too contrived.

KindGrind · Post by **KindGrind** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 2:56 am

I saw parts of Satantango, too.

The only DVD release for it is R2 (until Facets probably disappointing R1 edition comes out) and I don't have a region-free player.

In R1, we got crappy editions of Werckmeister, Damnation, Family Nest and Prefab People. Damnation is very good, although nowhere near as good as WH. The latter is a must-see for anyone interested in modern cinema. Great b&w cinematography!

zinger · Post by **zinger** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:57 am

I saw half of Werckmeister Harmonies the other day actually, but couldn't stand it. Some of the photography was really good, but most scenes felt shallow (kind of reminded me of Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) and over-pretentious (much because of the stupid music). The voice dub was also annoying.

I've heard good things about other movies by him though, so I will try to watch some more. As for what other movies I enjoy, I watched Chris Marker's La Jetée yesterday (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056119/)- it was wonderful!

KindGrind · Post by **KindGrind** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:16 am

I understand your reasons for not liking it. I for one loved the music, the symbolism and the pace of it all. Some scenes -especially near the end- feel long and useless upon the first viewing surely because they're not very clear. The signatures & plotting game isn't all that exciting I must admit. Anyway.

I haven't watched La jetée (rented it but ended up not having time watching it), but did watch Sans soleil. Very meditative, great stuff.

Some random movies I thoroughly enjoyed: Wings of Desire, Man Bites Dog, Requiem for a Dream, Festen, Being There, Aguirre, Brazil, Trainspotting, Les quatre cents coups.