Review of Werckmeister Harmonies (2001) by Howard J — 15 Mar 2008
Rich in deep images and style, Werckmeister Harmonies puts most American independent art films to shame. While Lynch, Jarmusch, and Van Sant craft films in a similar vein, none of these filmmakers' works flow as comfortably or plunge as deeply into the viewer's mind as Bela Tarr's masterpiece.
It begins with a man staging a solar eclipse using drunk men in a bar as astronomical bodies and ends with an enormous whale carcass lying among the wreckage of a destroyed world. In the process the film chronicles the apocalypse of a world full of both natural and human mysteries with which man's mind cannot cope.
I can't imagine too many people I know sitting through the first 5 minutes of this film, let alone the entire thing, but after reveling in every minute of it, I find myself eager to discuss it with someone.
This review of Werckmeister Harmonies (2001) was written by Howard J on 15 Mar 2008.
Werckmeister Harmonies has generally received very positive reviews.
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