Criterion Collection 2024 Releases: WERCKMEISTER HARMONIES (Spine No. 1215) 

Hello my friend! Thank you for this discussion that I had the great pleasure of listening to just now after watching this film for the first time a few days ago. I really try my best to keep my ear to the ground when it comes to discovering films that I might have an interest in seeing, so when I first started hearing rumblings about this director Béla Tarr and how good this film Werkmeister Harmonies was supposed to be, I added it to my Criterion wishlist. Now, after having watched the movie... Wow... Yet another mind warping experience brought to me through the Criterion collection. "I will be hard on you!" says the screaming kid into the fan while the other kid jumps up and down clanging stuff together... I was getting hardcore "meeting above the convenience store" vibes during that scene. What a unique style of filmmaking I am being introduced to in this film with the limited amount of long-cuts. I particularly liked the part where the "carnival" first arrives and it takes quite some time for the trailer to pass the screen before a man slowly cranks the ramp down and instantly sets up his little stand. All the many walking scenes and how the sound is used.. Is it just me, or does the vocal track and other sounds appear a little off? It's as if the words were recorded separately and then matched to the film slightly out of sync with the mouths and it gave me a very strange vibe. Perhaps I am wrong, but that is something I thought I picked up on. The same being said during the riot scene where sound is completely different than what you'd expect. It gives the most haunting effect ever when you think about it after the film is done. That horrific image of the man that ends that scene... The essay included really helped me wrap my head around what this film might have been trying to say about political things but also at the same time tying it to the workings of the cosmos itself. The fact this film was made in the year 2000 takes it to a higher plane for me and I think the essay also points that out quite well. Just taking this film in as a visual or musical spectacle is really something and I wouldn't expect this film to be for everyone but taking in the cinematic style was a moment I loved. I think the very first image of the fire not being completely put out by the water was an important thing to remember but there are a ton of things that I think need considering in this film to get the full picture and I know I am nowhere near the level of intelligence I would have to be at to understand it all. I just know that seeing this main character navigating a complex world where "harmony" seems to be out of reach for the populace while there are greater forces at work that include the impossibility or mysticism of the creation or existence of whales themselves... The synopsis really sums up a lot of what this film could be about too where the "societal collapse" could be referring to many things including "current events" etc. Yes, this is a rather provocative film that has challenged my brain and given me many things to consider.. I just know I really want there to be harmony in the cosmos and there not be creepy dark moments of unrest like this film presents. Whoah!!! Thank you for adding to my excitement for wanting to seek this movie out when you introduced it to me through your RU-vid channel, Daisuke! Just to add a few more words to describe a bit of how I've been feeling regarding Criterion; why do newer releases by Criterion sometimes seem like there is less effort in the presentation? I've mentioned it before and let me first stress that it is "not that important", but there seems to be a lot more foldout leaflets instead of booklets. Not only that, but when I first put in a videogame or Blu-ray into my player, I usually get a unique image that appears on the menu screen before I even press play. Why is it that Criterion seems to now, in my opinion, lazily take a step back and only include a grey background Criterion "C" logo now? I don't want to sound like I'm that upset but I just hate to see what I consider a step back in terms of quality of presentation by Criterion. At one point, the people that create these physical media releases cared enough to seek an image from the film for unique presentation and now they do not. Hmmm... Okay, criticism over. I hope you are well, Daisuke. Can't wait to hear you talk more about some great movies like this one again! Cheers!

One of my favorite films. If you’re able please check out the book it’s based on “The Melancholy of Resistance” Provides some really interesting context for the film.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 It's always good to hear from you and your reviews.

I’ve never heard of this film until it was announced that Criterion was going to release it on 4K Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray. Thank you for talking about this Daisuke, I hope you’re doing well and are having a great day. Take care!

I was intrigued by the cover and read the synopsis of this film and I definitely want to see it. I appreciate your thoughts.