Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr has died at the age of 70, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most unflinching and exacting filmmakers of his generation.
Tarr's films were notorious for their length, with some clocking in at over seven hours. But it was not just the duration that set him apart - it was the deliberate pace, the attention to detail, and the willingness to confront difficult themes head-on. His movies often took place in remote, rural landscapes, where characters struggled to escape the confines of their own lives.
Tarr's aesthetic was marked by its stark beauty, with long takes and meticulous composition creating a sense of hypnotic stillness. But it was not just the visual style that defined him - it was also his approach to storytelling, which often eschewed narrative in favor of psychological complexity and introspection.
One of Tarr's most celebrated films is Sátántangó, a slow-burning tale of isolation and desperation set against the backdrop of Hungary's communist regime. The movie's 8-minute opening shot of cows trudging through mud has become iconic, and its deliberate pacing creates a sense of oppressive weight that draws the viewer inexorably into the world of the characters.
Tarr was not just a filmmaker - he was also a perfectionist, known for his exacting standards and his willingness to push himself (and those around him) to the limit. He worked tirelessly in collaboration with a core group of collaborators, including his wife Ágnes Hranitzky and cinematographer Fred Kelemen.
Despite his critical acclaim, Tarr never achieved widespread mainstream success. His films were often misunderstood or overlooked by audiences who found them too slow or too challenging. But for those who appreciated his unique vision, Tarr's movies offered a sense of depth and complexity that was rare in contemporary cinema.
In an era where instant gratification is the norm, Tarr's approach to filmmaking seems almost quaint - but it is also refreshingly honest. His films may have been slow, but they were never boring. And as one critic noted, "the logic of life" - the repetition, frustration and boredom that we all experience in our daily lives - was precisely what made his movies so powerful.
As Tarr himself once said, film-making was a "drug" that he couldn't shake. He may have retired from directing, but his films continue to inspire and influence new generations of filmmakers. And as Sight & Sound magazine's 2022 poll showed, Sátántangó - along with Werckmeister Harmonies and The Turin Horse - has finally achieved the recognition it deserves.
Tarr is survived by his second wife Amila Ramovic, whom he married in recent years. His legacy will be felt for a long time to come, as audiences continue to rediscover the beauty and complexity of his films.
Tarr's films were notorious for their length, with some clocking in at over seven hours. But it was not just the duration that set him apart - it was the deliberate pace, the attention to detail, and the willingness to confront difficult themes head-on. His movies often took place in remote, rural landscapes, where characters struggled to escape the confines of their own lives.
Tarr's aesthetic was marked by its stark beauty, with long takes and meticulous composition creating a sense of hypnotic stillness. But it was not just the visual style that defined him - it was also his approach to storytelling, which often eschewed narrative in favor of psychological complexity and introspection.
One of Tarr's most celebrated films is Sátántangó, a slow-burning tale of isolation and desperation set against the backdrop of Hungary's communist regime. The movie's 8-minute opening shot of cows trudging through mud has become iconic, and its deliberate pacing creates a sense of oppressive weight that draws the viewer inexorably into the world of the characters.
Tarr was not just a filmmaker - he was also a perfectionist, known for his exacting standards and his willingness to push himself (and those around him) to the limit. He worked tirelessly in collaboration with a core group of collaborators, including his wife Ágnes Hranitzky and cinematographer Fred Kelemen.
Despite his critical acclaim, Tarr never achieved widespread mainstream success. His films were often misunderstood or overlooked by audiences who found them too slow or too challenging. But for those who appreciated his unique vision, Tarr's movies offered a sense of depth and complexity that was rare in contemporary cinema.
In an era where instant gratification is the norm, Tarr's approach to filmmaking seems almost quaint - but it is also refreshingly honest. His films may have been slow, but they were never boring. And as one critic noted, "the logic of life" - the repetition, frustration and boredom that we all experience in our daily lives - was precisely what made his movies so powerful.
As Tarr himself once said, film-making was a "drug" that he couldn't shake. He may have retired from directing, but his films continue to inspire and influence new generations of filmmakers. And as Sight & Sound magazine's 2022 poll showed, Sátántangó - along with Werckmeister Harmonies and The Turin Horse - has finally achieved the recognition it deserves.
Tarr is survived by his second wife Amila Ramovic, whom he married in recent years. His legacy will be felt for a long time to come, as audiences continue to rediscover the beauty and complexity of his films.
so another director bites the dust... i mean, who doesn't love a 7 hour film that puts you right to sleep 
? but seriously, tarr's style is all about patience & contemplation - kinda like trying to get a decent cuppa in this city 
. his films might not be for everyone, but hey, that's what makes them so damn interesting 
. the thing that always fascinated me about him was how he'd craft these beautiful landscapes, only to slowly reveal the ugliness beneath... like life itself, i guess 
. anyway, now we've got another master filmmaker to mourn 
. RIP bélá tarr 
i mean, you can't rush art, right? and the fact that tarr was so meticulous with every detail just shows what kind of dedication he had to his craft 
, but I think Tarr's style was so unique that it took time for people to appreciate him. I mean, have you seen Sátántangó? that movie is like watching a meditation session... not everyone can sit through 8 minutes of cows walking in the mud, but trust me it's worth it 
. he was all about depth and complexity, which is kinda refreshing in this era of instant everything 
. and I love how he never compromised his vision to fit into mainstream cinema - he was a true artist 
. RIP Béla Tarr 
it's like he just left us yesterday! 70 years young and he was already a legend in the film world, but to me he'll always be that quiet, brooding outsider on screen, his eyes piercing through you like nothing else matters 
I felt like I was wandering through a desolate landscape with Tarr's characters, where time itself seemed to be warped and distorted. And that 8-minute opening shot of cows in the mud? Forget about it! It's still giving me chills thinking about it 
his films were like puzzle pieces that you had to slowly assemble yourself, and once you did, everything fell into place. He had this ability to capture the quiet desperation of everyday life in a way that felt both universal and intimate.
but now, as we rediscover his work, I think we're seeing just how ahead of his time he was. His films were never about instant gratification or spectacle; they were about the slow burn of human existence, with all its beauty and ugliness 
. But at the same time, I think it's cool that his films are still inspiring new generations of filmmakers and stuff... like, who needs mainstream success when you've got a legacy, right? 
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. And hey, at least his wife Amila is still around to spread the love 
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what a legend his films are so slow but honestly they're like meditation or something - you gotta give it a few sittings to fully appreciate the beauty in them anyway, i think he's proof that good art doesn't have to conform to mainstream norms, and that sometimes it's okay to take your time and get lost in someone else's world 
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. Tarr was definitely a perfectionist and it shows in the level of detail he put into every aspect of his filmmaking, from cinematography to composition.
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I mean, who else could make 8 minutes of cows walking in the mud feel like an epic adventure? 
But seriously, his attention to detail and willingness to confront tough themes head-on is something we should all be striving for. His legacy will live on through the countless filmmakers he's inspired and the fans who've been changed by his work 
i mean, who else could make u sit through a 7 hour film & still feel rewarded at the end? 
his legacy will live on thru all the talented filmmakers he's inspired & the countless hours of cinematic goodness we can still watch & enjoy 
Tarr's style might've been super slow, but it was like watching a paint dry, you know? 
It's not about rushing through stuff, it's about letting things breathe and sink in. And honestly, that's what makes his films so powerful - they're like a big ol' hug from the inside out 
. I feel like we need more of that in movies, less fast-paced action and more thoughtful storytelling. That being said, some people might still say his films are boring... but isn't art supposed to challenge us or something? 
at 70, but I'm sure some people out there are still going to find ways to sleep through his movies 
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I mean, Sátántangó is like this super-slow-motion journey into the depths of human suffering 
70 years old and still making movies that put people to sleep 
I mean, I get it, some films need time to breathe, but 7 hours? That's just a bunch of fluff, right? And don't even get me started on the whole "artistic vision" thing. It's like, if you're gonna make a movie that's 8 minutes long and just shows cows walking around, is it really that deep or are you just trolling us? 
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