THE TURIN HORSE (A torinói ló) (2011) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Bela Tarr, Agnes Hranitzky

Written by - Laszlo Krasznahorkai, Bela Tarr

Starring - Janos Derzsi, Erika Bok, Mihaly Kormos

"BELA TARR shares directing credit with his editor AGNES HRANITZKY, in the film that was billed as his last. THE TURIN HORSE follows the everyday lives of two characters, a man and his daughter, we presume, living a desolate life in the Hungarian countryside that is as simple as the storyline itself. As the film goes on, we organically become aware that they are progressively faced with their horse's mortality, the horse not only being their only source of income but also effectively a third member of the family. 

Bold and strikingly beautiful, the film simply follows the daily routine of its two characters in a truly fascinating and absorbing way and through a deafening lack of dialogue. Despite this, it is highly enjoyable and interactive with its audience. Not least of all because of FRED KELEMEN's masterwork of black and white cinematography. 

THE TURIN HORSE is in fact effective because of the rigorous coordination of the very lengthy shots, as the camera constantly moves around its figures, and they interact in an ordinary way with their surrounding. This leads to a very genuine and subtle chronicling of their psychology, and turns even the moments that, on the surface, should be dull and empty, into an occasion for the viewer to read into empty gazes and methodical actions. 

There is a further heightening of tension and atmospheric charge provided by the meticulous sound editing, particularly dominated by the howling wind that is a constant presence on screen, and a great use of the music of another longtime collaborator of TARR's, MIHALY VIG, that along with the black and white photography adds emotions of melancholia to this one of a kind portrayal. 

In the end, it is only the storyline on paper that might mislead the viewer into thinking this as cinematic sedation. It would also altogether probably be unfair to deem it a work of hyper realism. THE TURIN HORSE is an incredible showcase for a unique voice in contemporary cinema, who appears to be particularly confident and selfishly self-absorbed in his own perception of timing, that expand on the all too often conventional cinematic boundaries. If this truly does end up being the final film by BELA TARR, there is no better way to go out than with this strong statement, a cinematic experience the likes of which is hard to come across."

Drama, Hungary/France/Germany/Switzerland/USA