In a rare and expansive interview, the revered and famously reclusive Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr has opened up about his uncompromising artistic philosophy, his role as a mentor, and his enduring legacy. The director, whose meticulously crafted, black-and-white epics like Satantango and The Turin Horse have cemented his status as a giant of European cinema, spoke candidly about the pursuit of what he terms "cinematic perfection."
The Relentless Pursuit of a Singular Vision
Tarr, who announced his retirement from filmmaking after 2011's The Turin Horse, described his directorial process as an all-consuming quest. He stated that his famed long takes, some lasting over ten minutes, are not a stylistic gimmick but a fundamental necessity to capture the truth of a moment. "It is about creating a world so complete, so immersive, that the camera becomes invisible," he explained. For Tarr, perfection lies in the seamless unity of image, sound, performance, and atmosphere, where nothing can be added or taken away without destroying the whole.
The director was forthright about the challenges this approach entails. He spoke of the immense physical and mental demands on his cast and crew, requiring a level of commitment and precision that is rare in contemporary film production. Each film, he noted, became a years-long journey, often shot in gruelling conditions to achieve the specific, rain-swept, and windswept realism that defines his work. This unwavering commitment has made his films both celebrated and daunting, revered in cinephile circles for their profound depth and stark beauty.
Passing the Torch: Mentoring a New Generation
A significant and heartening revelation from the interview was Tarr's detailed account of his mentorship of fellow Hungarian director László Nemes. Nemes, who achieved international acclaim with his devastating Holocaust drama Son of Saul, was a protege of Tarr's. Tarr served as an executive producer on Nemes' debut feature, providing crucial support and guidance.
Tarr expressed immense pride in Nemes' work, highlighting how Son of Saul's intense, subjective camera style, which follows its protagonist through the horrors of Auschwitz, resonates with his own philosophical approach to cinema. "László understood," Tarr said. "He understood that to show the atrocity, you must sometimes show it from the corner of the eye. You must make the audience feel it, not just see it. That is cinematic thinking." He described their relationship not as one of a teacher imposing a style, but of a master helping a talented artist find and hone his own distinct voice.
Legacy and the Future of Film
Despite his retirement from directing, Béla Tarr remains deeply engaged with cinema through his role as founder and head of the Film.Factory, a progressive international film school in Sarajevo. Here, he cultivates a new generation of filmmakers, instilling in them the values of rigorous craftsmanship and artistic integrity.
When pressed on the state of modern film, Tarr was characteristically blunt but not without hope. He critiqued the homogenising effect of mainstream filmmaking and the rapid, disposable nature of digital content. However, he pointed to filmmakers like Nemes and other graduates of his school as beacons. "The form changes, the technology changes, but the need for real, human stories told with honesty does not," he asserted. His legacy, therefore, is dual: the indelible body of work he created himself, and the influence he exerts through the artists he has guided.
Béla Tarr's interview provides a remarkable glimpse into the mind of a true auteur. It reinforces his position as a filmmaker who treated each project not as mere entertainment, but as a monumental artistic undertaking. His mentorship of László Nemes underscores a generous commitment to cinema's future, ensuring that the pursuit of profound, perfectionist filmmaking will continue to inspire long after his final, hauntingly beautiful shot has faded to black.
