This Hungarian film was listed in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, it is most likely I would never have heard of or even watched this, and despite the length I was determined to try it. Basically, set in 1980's, Hungary, in a small ruined and decaying village, at the time near the end of Communism, the farming community is gradually collapsing, and life has become a virtual standstill. Many of the villagers are expecting large cash payments, and they plan to leave after receiving it, but there is the return of Irimiás (Mihály Vig), a smooth talker, and he was thought to be dead for two years. The plot of the film mostly revolves around what his return has done and how it has impacted the various villagers, whether it be the money problems, the lack of things to do, the personal and family hardships and tragedies, and some finding the will to leave after all. You could argue that the film has hardly any plot or story at all, as it has many long takes of random and slow moving events. These include some cows standing in a barnyard, a POV walk down a gravel path, a doctor walking, a person lying on floor, men in a pub as camera pulls away, a little girl torturing a cat, her standing in the corner looking at the cat, the girl walking with the cat down a path, a long accordion dance with some villagers - barnyard style, a tango with the accordion music, a dead girl in an open coffin, loads of men sleeping, horses in a courtyard that have escaped the slaughterhouse, a man in an abandoned house, a drive in the pouring rain, three men walking down a street in strong wind and rain, a man typewriting, a man sitting alone in his chair, a sweep over some marsh land, man enters church where man is ringing and repeating "Turks are coming!", and many more long and meaningless events. Also starring Putyi Horváth as Petrina, László Lugossy as Schmidt, Éva Almássy Albert as Mrs. Schmidt, János Derzsi as Kráner, Irén Szajki as Mrs. Kráner, Alfréd Járai as Halics, Miklós Székely B. as Futaki, Erzsébet Gaál as Mrs. Halics, Erika Bók as Estike and Peter Berling as Doctor. The film is almost seven hours long, and with uncut takes lasting sometimes ten minutes this is understandable, the longest take definitely being the dancing before the tango with that repetitive music tune that goes on and goes, as does the dancing. I will admit I didn't see much of a plot, if there was one, but some of the long takes were interesting to watch, just for the fact that almost nothing happened, it is not your conventional film, no fast moving action and mostly real time footage, it has developed a cult following which is understandable, you have to be very patient and open for this epic black and white drama. Very good!
Review of Satantango
