A hypnotic, slow-burning epic of decay and desperation, Sátántangó follows the intertwined lives of a small, crumbling Hungarian village in the wake of collective collapse. With glacial tracking shots, stark black-and-white imagery, and a structure that moves forward and backward in time like a dance, Béla Tarr transforms the rhythms of daily life into something at once punishing and transcendent. Widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements of world cinema, the film stands as a towering work of durational storytelling—demanding patience, surrender, and total immersion from its audience.

This screening holds special significance for FACETS. Following the film’s original release, FACETS became the first to bring Sátántangó to American audiences on home video, championing its place in the canon long before it was widely accessible in the U.S. The film’s legacy is deeply intertwined with that of our founder, Milos Stehlík, whose commitment to bold, challenging cinema helped build a lasting relationship with Tarr and his work. In light of Béla Tarr’s recent passing, this presentation also serves as a tribute to a singular artist and a decades-long connection rooted in a shared belief in the power of uncompromising film.