DVD Corner

Werckmeister Harmonies Criterion 4K UHD Review

“Werckmeister Harmonies” is for the intellectual art house crowd.

Based on the novel “The Melancholy Of Resistance” by László Krasznahorkai, 2000’s “Werckmeister Harmonies” revolves around a young man in a small village named János Valuska (Lars Rudolph) who delivers newspapers and ponders the mysteries of the universe. János is good friends with a musicologist (who thinks deeply about music theory) named Gyorgy (Peter Fitz) whom he sort of takes care of. The village is bracing for a circus rolling into town that boasts the world’s largest giant whale and a notorious and mysterious individual named The Prince. Due to political unrest and crime, the fragile town soon devolves into chaos as The Prince incites a riot. János gets caught in the middle of this which puts his life (and mind) in danger. 

Written by author László Krasznahorkai and Béla Tarr and directed by Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky, “Werckmeister Harmonies” is a strange, eerie, tragic and thought provoking art film. For those used to films with faster editing and more action, Tarr (and Hranitzky) take a much more naturalistic approach to their storytelling. Viewers can expect a lot of long takes (one might argue too many long takes of characters walking), lingering shots, a slower pace, and scenes that capture everyday mundane existence. It doesn’t go for purely realism as there’s a certain surrealism, but there are moments that feel real to be sure. To some, this style may test one’s patience, but if you find yourself acclimating to the rhythm of the film, you’ll be rewarded (provided you are open to something more outside of the norm of the film world).

Where “Werckmeister Harmonies” comes alive is with the subtext, themes and often haunting imagery. Krasznahorkai, Tarr, and Hranitzky present a grim and broken world full of decay (both physically, mentally, and socially), political upheaval, human fragility, mob rule, order (in life and music), and madness (the chaotic riot sequence). There’s a lot to chew on here and some of it still feels uncomfortably true to life. The politics may be vague and the locations of the film are unidentified, but maybe that’s the point. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.66:1 2160p. How does it look? The 4K digital restoration of this B&W is largely satisfactory although some night scenes are a bit fuzzy with some image flickers.

Audio Track: Hungarian Uncompressed Mono. How does it sound? The Mono track provides a crisp audio experience.

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* “Werckmeister Harmonies” trailer
* A fold-out poster/essay by film programmer author Dennis Lim.
* A newly recorded interview between film critic Scott Foundas and director Béla Tarr in which the filmmaker talks about his life and career.
* The crown jewel of the extras here is Béla Tarr’s first film “Family Nest.”

April 15, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Béla Tarr, Criterion Collection, Werckmeister Harmonies Criterion 4K UHD Review