Werckmeister Harmonies

The Brief

If you were to watch just one film by Béla Tarr to understand his distinctive style, worldview, and metaphysical concerns, Werckmeister Harmonies is the one. It features his signature long takes, striking visuals, and a deep reflection on human folly, along with the figure of the “holy fool” – a character who mirrors the flaws of others. A small town is thrown into unrest when a travelling freak show arrives, featuring a gigantic stuffed whale and a mysterious “prince.” Rumors spread quickly: the prince is said to possess supernatural powers and a message – but is it a warning of the end, or a promise of salvation? As fear grows, some exploit the chaos while others withdraw. The tension steadily builds toward an inevitable release. Based on László Krasznahorkai’s The Melancholy of Resistance, the film is heavily reworked into a work of its own. Rather than following a linear story, it explores individual lives to reflect something larger. Both the artist and his composer friend see something in the whale’s eye – but what?