Béla Tarr

Known For

Directing

Born

Jul 21, 1955

Died

Jan 06, 2026

Place of Birth

Pécs, Hungary

Credits

63 titles

Béla Tarr

Biography

Béla Tarr (July 21, 1955 – January 6, 2026) was a Hungarian filmmaker. Much of his work is marked by philosophical elements and a pessimistic view of humanity. His films utilize unconventional storytelling methods, such as long takes and/or non-professional actors to achieve realism. Debuting with Family Nest in 1979, Tarr underwent a period of what he refers to as "social cinema", aimed at telling mundane stories about ordinary people, often in the style of cinema vérité. Over the next decade, the cinematography of Tarr's films gradually changed; Damnation (1988) was shot with languid camera movement aimed at establishing ambience. It marked Tarr's earliest experimentation with philosophical themes, focused mostly on bleak and desolate representations of reality. Sátántangó (1994) and Werckmeister Harmonies (2000) continued this approach; both are considered by some critics to be among the greatest films ever made. Tarr would later compete in the 2007 Cannes Film Festival with his film The Man From London. Frequent collaborators of Tarr include his wife Ágnes Hranitzky, novelist László Krasznahorkai, film composer Mihály Víg, cinematographer Fred Kelemen, and actress Erika Bók. After the release of his film The Turin Horse (2011), Tarr announced his definitive retirement from film direction. He has been teaching at the Sarajevo Film School since. Tarr died on 6 January 2026 following a long and serious illness.

Known For

Filmography

2026

First Lesson

Movie
2025

Stars of Little Importance

Executive Producer

Movie
2025

Lullaby for the Mountains

Executive Producer

Movie
2025

Living Stones

Executive Producer

Movie
2025

FUKUSHIMA with BÉLA TARR

Self

Movie
2024

Rumours

Thanks

Movie
2024

The Cowboy

Thanks

Movie
2024

Árni

Creative Producer

Movie
2023

Coda

Producer

Movie
2023

Deer Bell

Producer

Movie
2022

Isten hozott

Thanks

Movie
2021

Letters from the Ends of the World

Producer

Movie
2021

Lamb

Executive Producer

Movie
2019

Paola Makes a Wish

Producer

Movie
2019

Missing People

Director

Movie
2018

A Country Divided

Movie
2018

The Tree

Thanks

Movie
2018

The Confidence-Man

Executive Producer

Movie
2017

Aragane

Consulting Producer

Movie
2017

Muhamed

Director

Movie
2016

Man in the Well

Producer

Movie
2016

The Parrot

Thanks

Movie
2015

About Cinema

Self

Movie
2014

Lost in Bosnia

Executive Producer

Movie
2014

Tuga

Producer

Movie
2014

Tarr Béla: I Used to Be a Filmmaker

Himself

Movie
2014

Conniving

Producer

Movie
2012

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

Producer

Movie
2012

Hungary 2011

Producer

Movie
2011

The State That I Am Fish

Béla Tarr

Movie
2011

The Turin Horse

Director

Movie
2008

Béla Tarr: Mysterious Harmonies

Himself

Movie
2008

The Man from London

Screenplay

Movie
2007

365 Day Project

Self

Movie
2007

Fragment

Producer

Movie
2005

Johanna

Producer

Movie
2004

Visions of Europe

Director

Movie
2004

Prologue

Director

Movie
2003

Parola (su una data)

Tv
2001

Werckmeister Harmonies

Director

Movie
2001

György Fehér's Films According to Béla Tarr

Director

Movie
1998

Passion

Writer

Movie
1995

Journey on the Plain

Director

Movie
1994

Satantango

Screenplay

Movie
1990

Twilight

Consulting Producer

Movie
1990

City Life

Director

Movie
1990

The Last Boat

Writer

Movie
1988

Damnation

Writer

Movie
1987

Season of Monsters

Jesus as Mental Patient

Movie
1984

Autumn Almanac

Director

Movie