In tribute to legendary Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr, who passed away earlier this year, we are screening Werckmeister Harmonies. Typical of Tarr with his starkly contrasting black-and-white style and slow, captivating pace, this is the final work in his trilogy, which also includes Damnation (1988) and Sátántangó (1994).

When a circus with strange attractions, such as a dead whale, descends on a small Hungarian provincial town, the locals are captivated by a mysterious prince who tries to control the inhabitants and create chaos. A story that, like Tarr’s previous films, can be seen as a symbol of the fragility of civilization and the animalistic nature of humanity. -Lucas

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