Béla Tarr, the renowned Hungarian director, screenwriter, and producer, has passed away at the age of 70 following a long illness. The news was confirmed by Bence Fliegauf, who spoke on behalf of Tarr’s family to the national news agency MTI.
Tarr was recognized as a pivotal figure in contemplative cinema, known for his dark, melancholic narratives that often fused poetic storytelling with politically charged themes. His films, characterized by a pessimistic outlook on the human experience, often incorporated strikingly black humor.
Born in Pécs, Hungary, in 1955, Tarr began his artistic journey at Balázs Béla Stúdió, a key hub for experimental filmmaking in Hungary. He gained fame in 1994 with the release of his seven-hour magnum opus, “Sátántangó,” a black-and-white film exploring the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. This film, adapted from the novel by Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, was seminal in placing Tarr on the international cinematic map; Krasznahorkai won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2022.
Tarr continued to collaborate with Krasznahorkai, adapting the author’s work “The Melancholy of Resistance” into the critically acclaimed 2000 film “Werchmeister Harmonies.” Yet, it was his final film, “The Turin Horse,” released in 2011, that many consider his crowning achievement. This psychologically intense drama, co-written by Krasznahorkai, is inspired by the story of Friedrich Nietzsche’s mental collapse after witnessing the mistreatment of a horse in Turin. Premiering at the 61st Berlin Film Festival, it earned the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize.
Following “The Turin Horse,” Tarr chose to retire from filmmaking, relocating to Sarajevo, where he founded the international film school film.factory. His contributions to cinema were long recognized, and in 2023, he received the Honorary Award from the European Film Academy.
The European Film Academy expressed its sorrow in a statement, honoring Tarr as an “outstanding director” with a significant political voice, greatly respected by peers and admired by audiences around the globe.
The legacy of Béla Tarr lives on through his profound films, which continue to inspire filmmakers and cinephiles alike. He will be remembered as a master of his craft and a voice for the complex human condition.