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
First Lesson
Stars of Little Importance
Executive Producer
Lullaby for the Mountains
Executive Producer
Living Stones
Executive Producer
FUKUSHIMA with BÉLA TARR
Self
Rumours
Thanks
The Cowboy
Thanks
Árni
Creative Producer
Coda
Producer
Deer Bell
Producer
Isten hozott
Thanks
Letters from the Ends of the World
Producer
Lamb
Executive Producer
Paola Makes a Wish
Producer
Missing People
Director
A Country Divided
The Tree
Thanks
The Confidence-Man
Executive Producer
Aragane
Consulting Producer
Muhamed
Director
Man in the Well
Producer
The Parrot
Thanks
About Cinema
Self
Lost in Bosnia
Executive Producer
Tuga
Producer
Tarr Béla: I Used to Be a Filmmaker
Himself
Conniving
Producer
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
Producer
Hungary 2011
Producer
The State That I Am Fish
Béla Tarr
The Turin Horse
Director
Béla Tarr: Mysterious Harmonies
Himself
The Man from London
Screenplay
365 Day Project
Self
Fragment
Producer
Johanna
Producer
Visions of Europe
Director
Prologue
Director
Parola (su una data)
Werckmeister Harmonies
Director
György Fehér's Films According to Béla Tarr
Director
Passion
Writer
Journey on the Plain
Director
Satantango
Screenplay
Twilight
Consulting Producer
City Life
Director
The Last Boat
Writer
Damnation
Writer
Season of Monsters
Jesus as Mental Patient
Autumn Almanac
Director