A Stunning Experience

russianberserker

Brilliant, masterful, ad infinitum scarcely begin to describe the unbelievable experience that is Bela Tarr's gargantuan Satantango. It's obvious from the outset that this will be unlike anything seen previous, and this is due to an entrancing 8 minute dolly shot of cows strolling through a dilapidated village corral. There is no excuse for something like this to work this well and in fact would blatantly invite criticisms of "pretentious!" and "self indulgent garbage!" But alas, every single shot (with an average length of 6-8 minutes) in all 7  hours serves its purpose of enveloping the viewer into the murky bog of Irimias's treachery. The fascistic control exerted over every glide and push of the camera, besides never ceasing to impress, gives extended takes of craggy male faces to be little else than riveting. This is a tale that could easily be told in two hours with conventional methods, but would never once exude the power that it can with an epic length.

There is a tension that I've never experiences previous to my marathon viewing of this picture. Granted, many filmmakers use slinking dolly shots, slow push-ins etc. to create to intensify moments, but it has never succeeded so fully before or since Satantango. The movement never exceeds a certain speed, and even though you begin to beg for it to dart over to where the action is, it would never nearly be as effective if done so. The trudges across peeling walls become an adventure in and of themselves while you hear the conflict off to the side, making the eventual completion of the journey like a visual exhalation, where you think you can relax but then realize the uncomfortable conflict must now be witnessed in staggering detail.

There is a pervading sense of dread percolating under every frame, and outside of the unparalleled cinematography this can be attributed to the trance-like performances of all the actors, who slow down speech to point of making Kubrick's characters seem like they are starring in Brick. Their zombified line readings, often behind mustachioed frowns, created an unrelenting atmosphere of both despair and wonder. It's a fantasy world that seems absolutely acceptable and true to life. This kind of dichotomous thinking is inevitable with such an obtuse yet simple film. There is no cinematic experience comparable.

score 10/10

russianberserker 30 November 2008

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1983328/