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.
Directed 20
2010s
- 2019
Missing People
Director
- 2011
2000s
- 2008
The Man from London
Director
- 2004
Visions of Europe
Director
Prologue
Director
- 2001
György Fehér's Films According to Béla Tarr
Director
1990s
- 1995
Journey on the Plain
Director
- 1994
- 1990
City Life
Director
The Last Boat
Director
1980s
- 1988
Damnation
Director
- 1984
Autumn Almanac
Director
- 1982
The Prefab People
Director
Macbeth
Director
- 1981
The Outsider
Director
Diplomafilm
Director
1970s
- 1979
Family Nest
Director
Cinemarxism
Director
- 1978
Hotel Magnezit
Director
Produced 21
2020s
- 2025
Stars of Little Importance
Executive Producer
Lullaby for the Mountains
Executive Producer
Living Stones
Executive Producer
- 2021
Letters from the Ends of the World
Producer
2010s
- 2019
Paola Makes a Wish
Producer
- 2018
The Confidence-Man
Executive Producer
- 2017
Aragane
Consulting Producer
- 2016
Man in the Well
Producer
- 2014
Lost in Bosnia
Executive Producer
Conniving
Producer
- 2012
2000s
- 2008
The Man from London
Associate Producer
- 2007
Fragment
Producer
- 2005
Johanna
Producer
- 2001
1990s
- 1990
Twilight
Consulting Producer
No release date
Coda
Producer
Be Water My Friend
Consulting Accountant
Places Half Empty
Executive Producer
Wrote 14
2020s
- 2024
Árni
Creative Producer
2010s
- 2011
2000s
- 2008
The Man from London
Screenplay
- 2001
1990s
- 1998
Passion
Writer
- 1994
- 1990
The Last Boat
Writer
1980s
- 1988
Damnation
Writer
- 1984
Autumn Almanac
Writer
- 1982
The Prefab People
Writer
Macbeth
Screenplay
- 1981
The Outsider
Writer
1970s
- 1979
Family Nest
Writer
- 1978
Hotel Magnezit
Writer
Acted in 4
2020s
- 2026
First Lesson
Movie
2010s
- 2011
The State That I Am Fish
Béla Tarr
1980s
- 1987
Season of Monsters
Jesus as Mental Patient
- 1984
The Doctor's Pupil
Movie
Other crew 1
1980s
- 1981
Diplomafilm
Script
Edited 1
2020s
- 2020
Mami, La Moula
Supervising Editor
Appearances5
2020s
- 2025
FUKUSHIMA with BÉLA TARR
Self
2010s
- 2015
About Cinema
Self
- 2014
Tarr Béla: I Used to Be a Filmmaker
Himself
2000s
- 2008
Béla Tarr: Mysterious Harmonies
Himself
- 2007
365 Day Project
Self
Thanked in the credits5
2020s
- 2024
The Cowboy
Thanks
- 2022
Isten hozott
Thanks
2010s
- 2018
The Tree
Thanks
- 2016
The Parrot
Thanks