Order of the Day

This theory seems dubious once it leaves the realm of abstract aesthetics for that of political reality--which may explain why Tarr has embedded his exploration in a framework that's full of indecipherable elements. In any case, Werckmeister Harmonies is more a work of spiritual adventure than philosophical analysis: It uses a set of conspicuously modest raw materials--struggling people in an awful environment and a troubled epoch--to lift our minds and souls beyond the encumbering confines of ordinary films. In other words, Tarr is one of the great ones, and Werckmeister Harmonies merits the biggest audience that our perilously imperfect distribution systems can possibly give it.

Menemsha Entertainment

Temperance is a virtue: Lars Rudolph in 'Werckmeister Harmonies'

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More About

• Bela Tarr
• Andreas Werckmeister
• Laszlo Krasznahorkai
• Wildlife
• Nature and the Environment

A version of this article originally appeared in the Canadian film journal Cinema Scope.