Bela Tarr

[gtr]

On 2012-05-22 15:27:54 +0000, moviePig said:

>>> [calvin remark]
>>
>> Do you agree that the Stewart character was also homosexual? After all
>> he seems to have been a "good friend" of the protagonists, and would be
>> well aware of their sexual proclivities.
>
> James Stewart couldn't be homosexual even in a prison kissing-booth...

Setting homosexuality aside--only for a moment!--has anyone mentioned
the most notable aspect of the entire production? That it was shot in a
single continuous shot? Actually I think the didn't something funny
there to allow it to be done in two shots, but the "long shot" record
would still seem to be fixed. At least until Bela Tarr. I think he has
some kind of record at four hours, if memory serves.

I haven't seen any of Tarr yet but have one in the queue, "Damnation".

I was made curious by the recent article in the NYTimes:

http://tinyurl.com/cpubmjv

Any personal viewpoints on the films of Bela Tarr?

[wlah...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 8:30:55 PM UTC-4, gtr wrote:

> Any personal viewpoints on the films of Bela Tarr?

From what I've seen, I loved "Family Nest" and "The Prefab People" although the subject matter and style are major preferences of mine. "Satan's Tango" is fascinating and beautiful and actually deals with an interesting story. Whether it really required 7 hours to tell it is in the eye of the beholder. I intend to catch the rest of his films when I can. To me, he's essential viewing. Not everybody feels that way of course.

[wlah...@gmail.com]

I've also seen "Damnation" and liked it very much.

[gtr]

On 2012-05-24 03:54:38 +0000, poisoned rose said:

>> I haven't seen any of Tarr yet but have one in the queue, "Damnation".
>>
>> I was made curious by the recent article in the NYTimes:
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/cpubmjv
>>
>> Any personal viewpoints on the films of Bela Tarr?
>

> I haven't seen a Tarr film yet, but I'm planning to check out
> Werckmeister Harmonies in upcoming weeks.
>
> I'm a bit cynical about him...I sense that he's one of those "woo woo"
> director names that people like to calculatingly drop into conversation
> to make themselves seem impressive and highbrow. Kinda in the same way
> people tend to congratulate themselves on liking Thomas Pynchon or David
> Foster Wallace. But maybe after I see a couple of movies, I'll feel like
> he deserves the acclaim.

I started Damnation and found it visually appealing though incredibly
slow with little dialogue. Not deal breakers. Then out of nowhere
folks started talking in blabbery riddles. After 20 minutes we just
both looked at each other and said "Bail" simultaneously.

There was nothing about the judgement was fair or thoughtful, but we
were tired and it was very tiresome. It shrieks "BLEAK" coming out of
the gate too.

Still 20 minutes: It's like judging a restaurant because you found the
appetizer off-putting.

[Rob D]

If you get a bad oyster in the appetizer, there's no point hanging
around for the main course...
Rob

[gtr]

On 2012-05-23 00:41:20 +0000, wlah...@gmail.com said:

> On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 8:30:55 PM UTC-4, gtr wrote:
>
>> Any personal viewpoints on the films of Bela Tarr?
>
> From what I've seen, I loved "Family Nest" and "The Prefab People"
> although the subject matter and style are major preferences of mine.

Duly noted. Have you seen "Damnation"?

[gtr]

I got there late. What the hell, I'll probably give Family or Prefab a
start if I encounter them.

[wlah...@gmail.com]

On Friday, May 25, 2012 7:21:01 PM UTC-4, gtr wrote:
> >
> > Duly noted. Have you seen "Damnation"?
>

Yes. The first two, "Family Nest" and "Prefab People" are early films and aren't as arty (or slow) as his later films. "Damnation," as I remember it is sort of on the cusp of arty meets early work since is next film is "Satan's Tango" that is 7 hours of depressing images. Good stuff, but 7 hours?