Satantango (1994)
"Sátántangó" (original title)

In a small dilapidated village in 1990s Hungary, life has come to a virtual standstill. The autumn rains have started. The villagers expect to receive a large cash payment that evening, and... See full summary »

Director:

Béla Tarr

Writers:

László Krasznahorkai (novel), Mihály Vig (story),

Stars:

Mihály Vig, Putyi Horváth, László feLugossy

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Mihály Vig	...	Irimiás
Putyi Horváth	...	Petrina
László feLugossy	...	Schmidt
Éva Almássy Albert	...	Schmidtné
János Derzsi	...	Kráner
Irén Szajki	...	Kránerné
Alfréd Járai	...	Halics
Miklós Székely B.	...	Futaki
Erzsébet Gaál	...	Halicsné
Erika Bók	...	Estike
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
György Barkó	...	Iskolaigazgató
Peter Berling	...	Orvos
András Bodnár	...	Horgos Sanyi
Ilona Bojár	...	Horgosné
Péter Dobai	...	Százados

Storyline

In a small dilapidated village in 1990s Hungary, life has come to a virtual standstill. The autumn rains have started. The villagers expect to receive a large cash payment that evening, and then plan to leave. Some want to abscond earlier with more than their fair share of the money. However they hear that the smooth talking Irimias, whom they thought had died, is coming back. They are apprehensive that he will take all their money in one of his grandiose schemes to keep the community going.

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Plot Keywords:

1990s | rain | hungary | pub | writer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Hungary Germany Switzerland

Language:

Hungarian

Release Date:

28 April 1994 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

Satantango

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mozgókép Innovációs Társulás és Alapítvány, Von Vietinghoff Filmproduktion (VVF), Vega Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

450 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film, like many of Béla Tarr's films, contains one of the longest average shot lengths in any motion picture: 145.7 seconds. A single long take approximately 4 hours into the movie lasts an incredible 10 minutes, 14 seconds.

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Quotes

Futaki: I shouldn't drink. When I do I keep thinking of coffins.

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Connections

Referenced in Elephant (2003)

User Reviews

A masterpiece by any measure, one of the deep, dark wonders of cinema

If there's any proof of god, it's "Satantango", Tarr's impetuous yet melancholic, beautiful and sublime, unforgettable and dark, dark, dark masterpiece which is one of cinema's greatest treasures -- rich with darkness and wonder. At 7 hours long, it is as if it were life itself, and it really is, as everything -- tone, pace, tempo -- is in real time; essentially, it feels, and is, a tango. Tarr, again, demonstrates his mastery through the long take, as it beautifully portrays its subject and feelings of them. It's just such a film one can not even describe in words; it's simple art. This magnus opum of cinema has changed the value of that very term to me. Not many films can do that. I will never forget this film until the day I die, for "Satantango" should be a required viewing -- for everyone.