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American Carol, An Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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All of Us Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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Werckmeister Harmonies
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MPAA RATING: Not Rated
Starring Lars Rudolph, Peter Fitz, Hanna Schygulla, János Derzsi, and Djoko Rosic
Based on László Krasznahorkai's novel "The Melancholy of Resistance," this is an uncanny fable about powerlessness and tyranny. Set in a small Hungarian village at a moment of great crisis, a mysterious circus comes to town with a giant whale and news of an appearance by a Prince known for his strange powers. Soon the locals' emotions are stirred to a fever pitch of anticipation. (Anthology Film Archives)
| GENRE(S): | Drama |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Béla Tarr
László Krasznahorkai (novel The Melancholy of Resistance) Péter Dobai, Gyuri Dósa Kiss, and György Fehér (additional dialogue) |
| DIRECTED BY: |
Béla Tarr
Ágnes Hranitzky |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: February 28, 2006 Theatrical: October 10, 2001 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 145 minutes, B/W |
| ORIGIN: | Germany / France / Hungary |
| LANGUAGE(S): | German and Hungarian (with English subtitles) |
Original Hungarian title "Werckmeister harmóniák"
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 37 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Robert H. gave it a5:
Tedious beyond belief. the interest comes in watching someone struggle unsuccessfully to manufacture art. the kind of allegory on display here because there is so little context just comes off as silly. the kind of film I love to hate and for that reason worth watching.
Alex D gave it a9:
Reading user comments is hilarious. I love it when someone like Brad C. below stumbles unwittingly into a challenging experiment like this one, it flies over his head, and he ends up raging against his own befuddlement. Hey Brad: poorly filmed? Really? I know you were bored, but those long takes are objectively, undeniably masterful in execution. And pointless? I'd say you just didn't get any of its many, complicated "points." In any case, a completely mesmerizing experience, for those hip to Bella Tarr's out-there wavelength.
Dan B. gave it a2:
A huge disappointment. I'm all for very long takes and little plot--the films of Tsai Ming-Liang, for example, are mesmerizing to me--but I found this movie a chore to sit through.
Bruce H. gave it a3:
I really wanted to love this movie. I yearned to discover more than artistic photography and moody lighting, but that was all there was. I am very educated and I always seem to understand symbolism in film. Here, if there was symbolism--and dear god I hope that's what that was-- I didn't get it. I kept waiting for the moment of profundity, of closure, of understanding. It never came. If you like surreal, cryptic, bizarre films, then this is for you. Otherwise, ignore the high rating and save your time.
Brad C. gave it a1:
This movie was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Poorly acted, poorly filmed, and horribly paced. The movie is pointless and unentertaining. You will feel the pain of you brain cells dying throughout the the film should you make the mistake of watching it.
Andres Z. gave it a10:
Bela Tarr's surreal epic is an advance in pure avant-garde mastery - proof of Tarr's rise to power in Hungary. There are only 39 shots in the film, yet all are evocative of the presence of true magic. Along side with the great roles in the film, Tarr's mise-en-scene is flawless at capturing the fear and atmospheric in its perfectly realized milieu. By far, "Werckmeister Harmonies" is, in every sense of the word, a masterpiece.
Bob A gave it a10:
I know I'm supposed to comment more on the film than the other comments but I always thought that if you disliked a film then by all means lay into it with vigor. But to criticize those who disagree with you instead is cheap. If the only way you can comprehend those with differing opinions is by considering them to be idiots, then that's pretty darn sad. Werckmeister Harmonies is a long, quite, difficult film that represents the best in art cinema. If you're a fan of Tsai Ming-Liang or Tarkovsky, you'll love this. If you don't like it after 10 minutes you wont like it after 2 and a half hours, turn it off and do something else. Cheers!
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