Satantango (1994)
I am not a purist so I didn’t watch it in one setting, but split over three evenings at the included intermissions. Though if a local cinema did an event of this, I would totally be interested in watching it again. It might change my perspective on things, because it is one of the very few films that I immediately felt like I want to revisit at some point. The structure is not strictly linear and there is some cyclical nature that inspires one to go back to the beginning and see everything again with the complete picture in mind.
I am sort of a sucker for long takes in movies and this ordeal almost became a personal study in what that can hold my attention. I am the sort of person who grabs for their phone while waiting 30 seconds for the water to boil, and I sometimes become restless and bored with many modern movies that despite well developed plots and efficient shot editing, still makes me reach for my phone. I can’t fully explain it, but taking the long shots of mundane things on screen - like people walking through mud or packing their suitcase - mesmerized me to the screen. Something about long slow takes that demands attention and focus.
I believe there is a little tendency when watching these kinds of long arthouse highly acclaimed so called masterpieces, that one must come to the same conclusion. Maybe even sort of a Stockholm-syndrome effect - like you have just spent more than 7 hours with this thing, it has to be a worthwhile or life changing experience. I am not really settled on that yet, because I was more fascinated by the whole concept of what film can also be - rather than being emotionally invested. The film clearly conveys a great deal of misery, hopelessness and nihilism, but it didn’t really grab me in a personal way. The film feels a lot more philosophical and intellectual. Its literary source is very apparent and I might pick up the novel at some point.
This film is basically impossible to give a star rating. It might change on a second viewing and everything hasn’t settled yet. It just didn’t immediately land in the top tier for me, hence the 4 stars.
Rating: 4