Special screenings of Sátántangó follow Béla Tarr’s death

In short: After director Béla Tarr’s death in early 2026, cinemas and cultural venues are holding special screenings of his 7.5-hour film Sátántangó.

What happened

Béla Tarr, the Hungarian director of Sátántangó (1994), died in early 2026. In response, film organizations have scheduled memorial and tribute screenings to mark his legacy.

One example is a January 31 event at Liszt Institute Brussels, presented as a memorial screening. Other venues have continued to program the film as well, including Amsterdam’s Eye Filmmuseum, where it has been highlighted by guest curators.

The renewed attention also connects to a newer 4K restoration of the movie. A 4K restoration is a high-quality rescan and cleanup of an older film, like restoring a faded photo so you can see more detail again.

Why it matters

Sátántangó is unusual because it is about 7.5 hours long and moves very slowly, with many scenes filmed in a single unbroken shot. Fans often describe watching it in a theater as a test of focus, especially at a time when many people feel their attention is pulled in a lot of directions. These screenings show that some audiences still seek out shared, in-person cultural experiences that ask for patience, similar to committing to a long novel instead of reading quick summaries.

Source: Wired