Satantango

I did it. I watched this monolith of film... in theatres! It is an experience I will never forget. It was challenging, demanding, and rewarding. As I thought of ways to describe what I felt or thought, I couldn't help but think of all the inadequacies that come with describing wonders of nature. When you visit a majestic forest or a magnificent landscape, how do you accurately describe that beauty and feeling to a person who has not experienced it? Even a picture falls so short of the real thing. And so here, I believe Sátántangó lies some place beyond the realm of describable film. The more I think about what I saw and felt, the more I equate it to things I can't describe. It would caution to use the words: transcendent, hypnotic, and overwhelming. It stirred feelings within myself that I can only describe as rare. Maybe I can give those feelings names in the future. If there was ever a film to be described as "transportive," I believe this is it. I watched this in Los Angeles. But when I was watching it, I was not in Los Angeles. I was initially shaken at each intermission (we had two) because of the jarring experience of "coming back" to this reality. I feel I must end these thoughts with shortcomings, not of the film, but of myself. I feel as if a giant mirror stands before me. Sátántangó measures me as a person and makes me feel so small. That's an evoked feeling I cherish. But I won't pretend to understand the totality of this film. I won't sit here and tell you, "you must feel this is the greatest film of all time." Because even now I sit here and am uncertain of how to judge such a piece of art. For me, I think it would speak of more internal progress if I allow myself to remain uncertain of its importance. I think, maybe, this film is beyond such notions. This film does not need to be judged in such a way. In fact, maybe it does not need to be judged at all. To recall that majestic forest or a magnificent landscape I mentioned, should people stand before these things and "judge" them? Or should they simply stand before them, period?