Satantango (Artificial Eye & Facets)

[backstreetsbackalright]

C'mon now, we'd hafta be grossly over-cynical to see this as something other than good news. We've all read posts by people desperate to see this film numerous times on these boards. Bela Tarr has been fairly vocal on his own hands-on work on a DVD release, so I can't imagine Facets will put out something too terribly regrettable.

[Donald Brown]

His hands are more likely to be on the A-Eye version than on the Facets.

[tavernier]

That's true....Facets brought out lousy versions of three Tarr films on disc earlier this year.

[Barmy]

It's showing at MoMA in January for a week-long run, by the way.

[denti alligator]

Well, for those of you close to New York City, MoMA is screening the whole thing, as Barmy posted. Damn, I'm lucky. My wife has an annual pass, so I get in for free. Hell, I ccould see it twice. Here's the description and screening times.

Sátántangó. 1994. Hungary/Germany/Switzerland. Directed by Béla Tarr. Screenplay by Tarr, László Krasznahorkai, based on Krasznahorkai's novel Sátántangó. Cinematography by Gábor Medvigy. With Mihály Víg, Putyi Horváth, László Lugossy. Tarr's masterpiece has been hailed as a definitive statement on the demise of Communism in Eastern Europe. Over seven hours long, this epic maps the crumbling of a failed collective farm into dissolution and betrayal. Tarr has said that the film's form was inspired by the tango, with its six steps forward, six steps back—an idea also reflected in the overlaps of the time scheme. The exquisitely elaborate narrative is matched by stunning black-and-white cinematography and patient, serpentine camera movements. The blankets of mud and rain do not obscure Tarr's gallows humor. In Hungarian, English subtitles. 450 min.
Part 1 (approx. 4 hours): Wednesday, January 11, 5:00. Part 2 (approx. 3 hours 30 min.): Thursday, January 12, 5:00. Shown in its entirety (7 hours 30 min., with two fifteen-minute intermissions) on Friday, January 13, 4:30; Saturday, January 14, 3:00; Sunday, January 15, 1:00; and Monday, January 16, 1:00. T2

[shirobamba]

It's not too far away:

Dear Robert Beeson,

Last news that I'm aware of about AE's release of Bela Tarr's Satantango date back to end of April 05. Are there any news available on the release date of this gem?

R.B.'s reply:

It will be 1st half of 2006 - no exact date yet

[Barmy]

Saw this at MoMA today. Since the whole point of the film is the duration of watching it, it seems inappropriate to release this on DVD. Is anyone really going to watch this on a TV for 7.5 hours? That would be a total waste of time.

If they are going to release 7.5 hours of Hungarian cinema on DVD, they should release 4 Jancso flix.

[Oedipax]

We can't all live near places like MoMA that will actually screen films like Satantango. While I'd prefer to experience it theatrically (and live in New York City), finally seeing it on DVD out here in the suburbs is a lot better than nothing.

[Elephant]

Saw this at MoMA today. Since the whole point of the film is the duration of watching it, it seems inappropriate to release this on DVD. Is anyone really going to watch this on a TV for 7.5 hours? That would be a total waste of time.

I saw it yesterday as well. It was the most incredible cinematic experience I've ever had. What an unbelievable film. And I really feel like if you broke it up over two nights, or even took too long of a break during it then something would be lost. I'm still too stunned by it to really offer anything other than unmitigated praise, but I don't think the "whole point" is the duration of watching it. DVD is a great option, I think--how many of those people (1/3 of the theater) who abandoned ship during or after the first act might actually get through it at home if they could watch it in two or three sittings? Half of the audience was gone after the second act--though I figure if you'd put in four and a half hours already you'd stay for the last three.

[denti alligator]

I'm going tomorrow (last day). I take it from your remarks that I won't need to worry about not getting tickets...?

[Elephant]

Well, there wasn't an empty at seat the beginning of the film, and there were a dozen or so people standing in the back. Before the end of the first reel, no one was standing (they filled evacuated seats) and by the first intermission (2.5 hours in) there was plenty of breathing room. The only problem is that a lot of MoMA members just sort of come in and disrupt things and shuffle around and watch the film for ten minutes (cuz admission's free with a membership) and then hate it and make a ton of noise disrupting everyone and getting up and leaving, etc--this happened for most of the eight hours, though it was fairly quiet and nonintrusive after about four hours in. Have fun.

[Titus]

So long as AE provides a clean, anamorphic transfer, and one has the means to watch it on a 50ish+ inch (preferably) widescreen setup, I think DVD is a perfectly acceptable venue to watch the film. It's far too visually spellbinding, and Tarr's mastery too overwhelming for the picture to ever feel dull (to me, anyway) even on a slightly compromised scale.

I just hope AE doesn't skimp on the transfer. Their release of Werckmeister Harmonies was quite good, but didn't get the anamorphic enhancement (the re-issue of it anyway--the original release that they recalled was anamorphic but incorrectly framed at 1.76:1) it was screaming for. Watching this on a tube wouldn't do the film the justice it deserves.

[SHOCKMASTER]

Anybody know if this SANTANTAGO print will be traveling to any other major cities?

[peerpee]

What OAR is SATANTANGO? I thought it was 1.33:1?

[Barmy]

It's definitely not 1.33.

I love the film (and all late Tarr), but am not as big of a fan of it as many other "cinemaniacs". I guess I just don't have the attention span when I am at home to devote 7.5 hours to a film (3 hours is a huge stretch for me). I also think the length is a bit of a stunt--how else, for example, to explain the 30 minutes devoted to the drunken dancing (which I think is a hoot, but precisely because it goes on for so long). It is spellbinding when you are enveloped by it, but I would have no interest in seeing it at a venue like Film Forum where the screens are small, let alone on a TV.

[Titus]

What OAR is SATANTANGO? I thought it was 1.33:1?

I believe it's 1.66:1--the same as Wreckmeister Harmonies, which was denied anamorphic enhancement by AE.

[ptmd]

Anybody know if this SANTANTAGO print will be traveling to any other major cities?

MoMA's showing their archival print and they never, ever loan out their archival prints to another venue. Actually, truth be told, this is probably the last time the film will be shown on 35mm in North America for a while, because of the two other prints that used to circulate, one was irreparably damaged and the other was sent back to Hungary. Hopefully the DVD release will build up enough interest for MoMA to bring their print back out of storage, but it will probably be a while.

[zedz]

I also think the length is a bit of a stunt--how else, for example, to explain the 30 minutes devoted to the drunken dancing

Don't you answer your own question?

(which I think is a hoot, but precisely because it goes on for so long).

There are effects that Tarr gets in this film that are entirely dependent upon the length of scenes and specific shots.

[Titus]

There are effects that Tarr gets in this film that are entirely dependent upon the length of scenes and specific shots.

I agree. The overall sense of doom and hopelessness is intensified by Tarr's farcical long takes and persistence to encapsulate the viewer into the world alongside the characters. No other filmmaker I'm aware of is as skilled at creating such a self-contained universe and immersing the audience inside it. I think that the picture's potential to work for each respective viewer is contingent upon whether he or she can allow themself to be absorbed by it--distancing yourself from this material isn't an option.

[Barmy]

hmm, a S'esque double posting. Sorry.

[Barmy]

I'm a bit sorry I didn't catch it again at MoMA. I've seen it a few times before at other NYC venues, but wasn't aware prints were that rare.

Still, I think it is way overrated, and if it ever comes out on DVD, a number of those DVDs will remain unwatched to completion.

[chaddoli]

Saw it at MoMA today with a full house and wow -- certainly one of the best films I've ever seen. Tarr's lack of attention in the west is a shame.

PS There was some weird asshole sitting next to me who kept taking digital pictures of the screen (no flash), the other guy next to him eventually told him to stop but it was really strange.

[denti alligator]

Yeah, that guy was right behind me and he'd lean forward near the back of my head to take these pictures. Arrgh.

What an experience!

[Barmy]

That guy may be hawking a bootleg Satantango DVD in the subway within the next few days.

[SHOCKMASTER]

What is the aspect ratio of SATANTANGO, anybody know?