Why do I feel that I’m inviting an anathema upon myself by rating this time- and mind-bending classic as a four-star film instead of the mandatory five? I admit it was truly an original piece of work, no question about it. And yes, the cinematography was breathtaking. Those slooow tracking shots were so evocative that they alone made the film stand out from the heaps of monochromatic art house films that earn their cult reputation by being mere antitheses to Hollywood narration.

But when the film was finally coming to an end, I didn’t feel enlightened by it in any way. I was expecting to gain a deeper insight into human psyche during those seven hours spent watching the film, but in the end I felt that I had learned nothing. Some of you might argue that it’s not relevant to “learn” by watching films but I do expect my worldview to be enlarged if I’m gonna spend several hours of my life concentrating on a piece of art.

However, I decided that I’m going to watch Sátántangó again to find out what I’m missing. Maybe it’s impossible to absorb the whole panorama of themes and characters Mr Tarr is depicting in one sitting. Be that as it may, I urge everybody in Mubi to grab a hold of this film and explore the depths it has to offer.