Werckmeister Harmonies

Having once stated in an interview "When we are making a movie... we only talk about concrete situations - where the camera is, what will be the first and the last shot. We never talk about art or God" it is difficult for a true cinéphile to know whether or not to believe Béla Tarr entirely. Indeed, it is nigh impossible to watch Tarr's seminal Werckmeister Harmonies (2000) without wondering what exactly is going on; what does the whale represent?; who is this mysterious 'prince'?; what will become of our protagonist János Valuska? In truth, none of this matters. Whilst I could write page after page discussing the potent political symbolism present within the film, the fact of the matter is that Tarr's Werckmeister Harmonies is truly a masterpiece of modern cinema, regardless of whether or not there is any real meaning behind it.

In another interview, Tarr described the difference between 'cinema' and his own work by stating he hopes that he is "closer to like than cinema". This is exactly what Tarr achieves with Werckmeister Harmonies. Whilst the idea of a travelling circus - carrying with it the stuffed carcass of a whale - inciting such terror may seem unrealistic to some (particularly when taken out of the sociopolitical context of the film), it is within the subtlety (near lack) of Tarr's editing that the realism lies; every scene being shot majestically in real time, often only cutting when the film runs out - something Tarr has somewhat humorously, and somewhat perversely, referred to as 'Kodak censorship'.

Taken at face value, the cinematic technique witnessed in Werckmeister Harmonies is awe inspiring. The entire 145 minutes of the film are compiled of just 39 shots; an artistic achievement in itself, only outdone, perhaps, by Russian Ark (2002). However, whilst Russian Ark stands as a milestone in cinematic history (filmed entirely in one 96 minute take on high definition cameras with a cast of over two thousand; an achievement many may see as a challenge to better), Werckmeister Harmonies shall never be out done; Tarr brings so much more to the table. From its extraordinary opening scene to its incredibly elegant shades of black and white, Werckmeister Harmonies is beautiful; one can simply watch it and appreciate Tarr's composition regardless of any subversive meaning.