The contemplative filmmaker Bela Tarr has passed away at the age of 70 in Budapest, leaving an artistic legacy that has influenced generations of filmmakers and viewers. His most emblematic work, Sátántangó, is an epic over seven hours long that has been acclaimed as one of the greatest films in the history of cinema, not only for its complex narrative and visual style but also for its profound pessimism and assertion of nihilism.
A master of slow cinema
Born in 1955, Tarr began his film career with Family Nest, released in 1979 at the age of 24. Despite his modest beginnings, in 1988 he solidified his success with The Melancholy of Resistance, which allowed him to make a name for himself in independent cinema. This development of his career culminated in 1994 with Satantango, where he employed long takes that sometimes lasted up to ten minutes, establishing a unique style that has challenged many to imitate it unsuccessfully.
Although he officially retired as a director in 2012 after the acclaimed The Turin Horse, which won the Grand Jury Prize in Berlin, Tarr continued to explore new forms of audiovisual art, founding a film school and creating multidisciplinary works that challenged the conventions of commercial cinema. His influence extended beyond cinema, being admired by both his peers and the general public.
The European Film Academy expressed its sorrow over the loss of this radical creator, highlighting his political and artistic voice. László Krasznahorkai, novelist and frequent collaborator of Tarr, also remembered the filmmaker, questioning who will be the next rebel in the art world. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill in the cinematic realm.
