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Review:
I've seen many movies, and I can ramble on about this medium of entertaining all day. So believe me when I say, I've never seen a film that was like 'Satantango'. And it is one of my favorite films of all time. 'Satantango' is a masterpiece of great film making, with true passion poured into every frame of this astonishingly long seven hour film.
Centering around the lives of several people living in a small rural town, located in Hungary, when a series of events turns what seems like an average day, into a day of tragedy. Very slowly paced, and slowly told, the story feels like it is being told in very real time, and this allows the narrative to flow naturally. And part of this amazing technique is done with the help of the camera work and cinematography.
Director Bela Tarr's style of using very long wide shots, creates a beautiful looking movie. And for a film that is seven hours in length, there are only about 150 shots in total, which is impressive to say the least. And at the same time, the set design is some of the best ever put to film, as it sets the tone of the movie, as they are the most drab, depressing, and sad looking landscapes, really giving the audience a sense of how depressed the town's people are in the film, how empty their lives are. Another part of his technique, that this to us, is how the director takes short brakes from the narrative. Like scenes of the characters walking to places, or just doing mundane activities. However, this can say so much about the narrative and the characters, when done right, and considering the 10/10 rating I gave it, you can bet that this film does it right.
A great example of this technique done right, is a scene in the film, where the films characters are dancing in a bar to accordion music, and a little girl is just watching it happen. And many may complain that the scene goes on too long, as it is ten minutes. But looking beyond the surface there is something more. From the surface, this scene has no substance, it is just people dancing. But when you think about it, you realize it was like that by design. The scene is meant to have no substance, as it demonstrates that there is zero substance in the characters lives, and this is the most exciting part their day. And the little girl is just watching it happen, possibly thinking she might become something like that in the future.
Another great example of this, is earlier in the film, when we a character simply known as, "The Doctor". As we see what seems like an average day for him. As he sits in his house, drinking and smoking. However, when he runs out of alcohol, he's forced to go outside and get more, something he doesn't usually do. As he is always in pain, and has a hard time moving, exemplified by the fact that he always to make a sound (like a groan) when he makes even the tiniest movement. From the surface, nothing is happening, but on further analysis, you can see that this scene perfectly represents this characters struggle. Someone who is old, in pain, and stuck in this town, (as a crucial plot-point is that a few characters in the film are trying to leave the town).
The acting in this film is amazing, some of the best I've ever seen, and some of the most real and down to earth performances I've ever seen in a film. Not only that, but one of the greatest performances from a child actor. And the way they deliver the lines they're given, makes me want to see them in other films.
The film is also very poetic in nature, from poetry style dialogue, to a sort of poetic style of writing, with all the hidden meanings and allegories scattered throughout the film. 'Satantango' contains amazing writing that can be compared to some of the greatest poems.
'Satantango' is adapted from a book of the same name, and it lives up to it in every way. As the writer of the book, László Krasznahorkai, was heavily involved with the script. And even though I don't know how a 300 page book translates into a 7 hour movie, the book and film complement each other perfectly. As it still stays faithful to the events of the book without leaving anything out. Both creating a very unique experience for the reader and the viewer.
'Satantango' is more than a movie, it's an experience at heart. Now: call me pretentious all you want, but this's what I believe about the film. We experience the tragic story, and the characters struggles, as well as a taste of their boring everyday lives, and all of that adds to the greatness of this film. Now: I know not everybody can watch this film, most don't have the time. So I recommend it in bits and pieces. I don't recommend watching the film in one sitting. But when you see it, you will know that it deserves its 8.5 rating on this site. And maybe even think, it deserves a higher rating than that.
'Satantango' is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. And even though it's seven hours, I love every second of this film. Any time it was dull or boring, it was like that by design. And might call Bela Tarr pretentious, but I prefer the term genius. And even watching it twice, I don't regret the in total fourteen hours of the time that was spent watching this incredible movie.
score 10/10
Mara-Jade-Skywalker-23 23 June 2019
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4953851/ |
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18-2-2021 05:02:08