Tarr has made two or three of the most important films of the last thirty years, which is something only a very select group of filmmakers can lay claim to, so whether or not he continues to make films is most likely a personal decision and not an artistic one.
As for the last question, I don’t see why he would not be serious.
Going out on top happens so rarely. One must admire it, even as it hurts to say goodbye to him as an active film maker (if that is in fact what is happening.)
I agree. If indeed this is his last film, he’d be going out with a pretty strong catalog.
Yes- he now he plans on mentoring young filmmakers and producing their films from what I’ve heard.
I too am sad to see him go as a filmmaker, and I’m very excited/hopeful about the Turin Horse.
“Do you think he is really serious about it being his last?”
I wouldn’t take it too seriously. I think there’s a long history of directors claiming to retire from filmmaking or to stop making films and they very rarely make good on that promise. Short of premature death, very few directors can stop. It’s too addictive. And Tarr is not even old. I recall Kieslowski also said Trois Couleurs would be his last films and he was planning to make a new series when he died.
My friend met him last year in Jeonju, Korea during the city’s international film festival and said that Tarr is a very humble and down-to-earth guy. :)
I was working at Facets when he came for the release of his films on DVD and he certainly seems to be someone who says what he means. In all likelihood it will depend on the reception of the new film as many critics , especially at Cannes were brutal about ‘Man from London’ and the fact that his producer,Balsam, died during the process wouldn’t have made it any easier. For now I will just continue to look forward to the Turin Horse and hope through creating new work he changes his mind.
I’m saddened but not surprised. I also think that Tarr is not likely to change his mind.
It almost seems like prestigious film festivals were conspiring to avoid screening Tarr’s works throughout his career. (I’m lookin’ at you, Cannes).
Tarr’s recent films were hamstrung by some serious compromises, mostly due to the conditions attached to his hard-won funding. The dubbed-in Hungarian dialogue accompanying the “required” multi-national cast is quite jarring to me, for example.
I believe that Tarr’s works are prophetic in nature (yes, I’m a pessimist), and everyone knows how prophets get treated in their own time….
someone on here recently said that Bela Tarr’s movies do not function as metaphors. I thought that was rather strange. On what level do they function on then? Certainly not literalist?
this upsets me. I did not no this. I’ve been looking forward to the turin horse since i heard it has annoucned.
Ah well atleast we get one more though.
After the disappearance and re-appearance of Terrence Malick after a 20-year hiatus, it’s very hard to believe any filmmaker’s talk of retirement.
I certainly hope he is not retiring, but the potential of him mentoring young filmmakers sounds good. At the very least it seems like there is a good possibility of him going out strong since The Turin Horse sounds amazing.
It will be very sad for a lot of people but i personally admire his guts to say, will see what happens…
Does anyone have any updates on The Turin Horse? It isn’t playing at TIFF or Venice this year, and I can’t think of any other festivals that it could possibly debut at (save maybe Locarno?), so maybe Cannes next year?
it was supposed to have been completed by this year,the funding structure was securely in place unlike the difficulties [to put it mildly]faced by the man from london.
for those who dont know ,bela tarrs the Trojan horse will document the final days of nietsche after his possibly apocryphal encounter with the abused horse that precipitated his psychological breakdown. a semi departure for tarr it seems to be more akin to a straub film
Actually, it will be titled A Torinói Ló or, The Turin Horse. As far as I know, the film will not be documenting the final days of Nietsche, but the final days and death of the abused horse, and the impact it has on its owners and their means of survival.
Are you guys sure he is doing The Turin Horse?
Pretty positive.
UPDATE!
http://unspokencinema.blogspot.com/2010/08/turin-horse-completed.html
It is completed!
Now the big question is: when are we going to see it? Late entry to TIFF or Venice? I have a feeling it may not see the light until Cannes next year….
That kind of sounds like Bressons film about the donkey Balthazar. I wonder who Mr.Ed will feel about being upstaged by an art house director?
I think there may be some similarities with Au Hasard Balthazar. There will most likely be more of a focus on the theme of life (and depression) in the Alföld (the Hungarian plains).
The turin horse is not an official selection at TIFF…it’s confirmed.
That is pretty saddening, but expected. Hopefully it will be shown somewhere soon! Most importantly, I hope he reconsiders his decision to retire after this film. Maybe he is waiting for Cannes?
I have an unofficial information from Wec Werk Works that The Turin Horse is getting premiere this Spring. So, it will be propably in Cannes :)
Hopefully at Cannes, yes. 2011 is shaping up to be quite a year…
That is amazing news! I was seriously digging for info yesterday and couldn’t come up with anything. Premiere at Cannes, so hopefully we’ll get to see it by the end of the year…
Really hope this gets a UK theatrical release. I’d love to see a Bela Tarr film on the big screen!
Peter H.
He says “The Turin Horse” will be his last film, you can look up multiple interviews where he has said that. I am very sad about this. :( What do you think about this? Is it good that he is quitting at the top of his game? Or bad because he won’t make any more great films. Do you think he is really serious about it being his last?