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Comment by haunter | Hacker News Reader

You can't mention Krasznahorkai without Béla Tarr. Tarr's main filmography is basically Krasznahorkai's main bibliography: Damnation (1988), Sátántangó (1994), Werckmeister Harmonies (2000), The Man from London (2007), The Turin Horse (2011). I honestly say the films from Tarr are arguably the best book-to-film adaptations ever, especially Sátántangó, he is the master of literary filmmaking where the spirit of text comes across the screen perfectly.

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They truly feel like a match made in heaven. Krasznahorkai's own writing is lovely and lyrical, and Tarr's interpretation of it projects the same ideas onto the films but also in a way that makes it stand distinct as a medium.

I could watch this scene from Werckmeister Harmonies every day for the rest of my life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5X2t_s9g8

And The Turin Horse as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wPCkjN3n6s

Think of some magical Tarr adaptation of Seiobo There Below...

Thank you so much to you and original commenter for the passionate rec.

Try to see Tarr's movies on film. Except for the last couple that got Bluray releases there are only horrible quality DVDs available. But they come around on 35mm in cities like NY somewhat routinely.

When Turin Horse came out I saw it at the NYFF (with an hour long talk in a small room with the director) and then another 3 times in theaters afterward. I've been lucky to catch Satantango and Werckmeister on film.

Tarr also mentored a young Chinese director, Hu Bo. His two works are very good: An Elephant Sitting Still and Man in the Well. Tarr came out to TIFF to introduce and eulogize the latter with an impassioned speech.

edit: Forgot that Criterion finally released a new edition of Werckmeister recently.

> Krasznahorkai's own writing is lovely and lyrical

I would describe his writing style as relentlessly oppressive, and hypnotic.

It is not easy to commit seven hours to a single movie; for me, Sátántangó was worth it. Warm up on Werckmeister Harmonies which is a short two hours since Bela Tarr isn't and doesn't need to be for everyone. That said, Sátántangó is in my top four movies of all time because of how well it reflects humanity and how much it says about how we interact with each other. (The cows are a metaphor for HN, obviously.)

Yes, Sátántangó is quite the experience. Seven hour investment for one film, and I actually want to do it again.

Try Out 1: Noli Me Tangere at 14 hours

Satantango was screened with a full dinner break in the middle (long enough to see another movie in the interim) when I saw it, but this one I went to had to be spread out over two days

Same here. I’ve been dedicating New Year’s Day to a long movie for a few years now —- Trenque Lauquen last year —- and the habit is working out quite well.

I've loved those novels of his that I've read, particularly War & War, and haven't watched a single one of those films. Krasznahorkai's work stands on its own perfectly fine.

You shouldn't dismiss them - they are not only adaptations, their screenplays were written by Krasznahorkai and he collaborated with their production.

Turin Horse is an original work by Krasznahorkai without being an adaptation, too. (I've seen that one 7 or 8 times, 4 during its festival & cinema run.)

To dismiss them would be like to dismiss his works with Max Neumann (AnimalInside being one of his best!) because they combine writing with painting instead of being pure literature.

oh wow, i sense a bojler elado, here.

In a similar vein, the novelist/film maker collaboration between Kobo Abe and Hiroshi Teshigahara was very fruitful, and produced some beautiful films.

Tarr and Krasznahorkai are basically artistic soulmates

  > I honestly say the films from Tarr are arguably the best book-to-film adaptations ever, especially Sátántangó, he is the master of literary filmmaking where the spirit of text comes across the screen perfectly.

If that is so, then these are books that you read to experience ultimate ennui?

I know the films, I've watched them all, but doing e.g. Satantango in book form sounds not so enticing?

"Doing Satantango in book form?" The book is the original.

>Sátántangó

>Running time: ~8 hours

Yeah, I'll pass.

Ironically, I think Sátántangó might be one of Kraznahorkai’s shortest novels.

How many Netflix series have you ever binged?

I don't know, a couple.

What does that have to do with this?

same investment, or less

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