Sátántangó by László Krasznahorkai

Like what I do? Feel free to buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/leafbyleaf
Paperback, 288 pages
Published 2013 by New Directions (first published 1985)
Original Title: Sátántangó
ISBN: 0811220893
www.ndbooks.com/author/laszlo...
Film by Béla Tarr
1994
7h20m
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
00:00 - Book review
17:31 - Film review
#leafbyleaf #bookreview #filmreview #laszlokrasznahorkai #satantango

[@litcrit1624]

If anyone has a chance to see Sátántangó in a theater, sharing your day or night with others, I encourage you to take it. The unbroken spatiotemporal environment of the theater, screen, and audience will become central to your experience of the film.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I could definitely see that. Perhaps one day...

[@37equals37]

The part of the movie involving the girl and the cat is THE most amazing piece of cinema I have ever seen. Absolute magic caught on film.

[@travelthroughstories]

Wonderful review! I completely agree with Krasznahorkai being sui generis - the hypnotic rhythm of his prose is such a pleasure to read. After watching this I now need to find 8 hours this weekend to watch the Béla Tarr film... Thanks for the review!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Exactly--there is a musicality in the labyrinth of the sentences (at least in the English, so I'm assuming this quality is present in the Hungarian as well). I took a day off of work to watch this one. A sublime day spent.

[@PaperBird]

yes you posted the vid! the Tarr movie is a great book-to-film adaptation (it might even take less time to read the book). i enjoyed The Paris Review interview with Krasznahorkai - he has some interesting views on writing

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Yes! You are, in a way, inextricably bound to this video. :)

[@tripp8833]

I just started Seiobo There Below by this dude and I can't believe how cool it is. He is a badass writer for sure.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hear, hear! We’re privileged to have him!

[@choggerboom]

I wonder how much this book had influenced the RPG "Disco Elysium". Very similar settings and themes, and not to mention, both titles referencing an otherwordly place as well as a type of dance/music genre seems to be quite a direct nod

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Interesting!

[@aquarius555]

Great book and film! I recommend you to read "The Melancholy of Resistance" next because that was also adapted by Tarr and LK into much-easier-to-consume movie called Werckmeister Harmonies ( a brisk 145 minutes). Krasznahorkai is channeling Moby Dick a little bit in that one. Hungary has quite a few of these "postmodern/experimental" authors, I recommend Peter Esterhazy - Celestial Harmonies and Adam Bodor - The Sinistra Zone. Esterhazy also wrote a book called The book of Hrabal, a great homage to Bohumil Hrabal.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for all these recommendations! I will definitely be reading everything LK has written (and will continue to write).

[@markmorrison7785]

I just finished this last night. Both structure and content have left me with a lot to ponder; I don’t even feel comfortable giving a commentary yet. This book is truly great.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

"I don't feel comfortable giving a commentary yet" --> I still feel the same way!

[@unpaginated]

This was my introduction to Krasznahorkai and still one of my favorites. I love how you've been incorporating work by other critics in your videos.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Awesome! And thanks for the feedback. Especially since I’m currently at work on a video that will include a copious amount of criticism. :-)

[@tristanschafer1]

Tarr/Krasznahorkai is a match made in heaven. Would love to see a similar video about Alfred Döblin's Berlin Alexanderplatz and its 15 hour film adaptation.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Teaser: My next book+film reviews are ZAMA and VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS. I've added yours to the list!

[@sanandreasyeti2130]

What a great review! I am so so glad you enjoyed both the book and the film. I was born in the same small town as Krasznahorkai, and it makes me really happy to see him get recognition for his work. I hope you will read and enjoy more of his books (and possibly post more review videos of them).

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks! I plan on reading everything he has written-and make videos about it. All my best to you!

[@MrInterestingthings]

So happy to discover Krasnahorkai . I saw Bela Tarr 'Turin Horse when it first came out and have loved and avidy followed his work since !

[@LeafbyLeaf]

And he has a new book coming out this year! www.ndbooks.com/book/herscht-07769/

[@sputniki5477]

That's crazy, I was just discussing this book with someone and remarked that if it weren't for explicit time markers, you'd think everything was set in the 1920s. In Melancholy, there's mention of the moon landing, which made me say to myself, OK, this must be taking place in the present day. Not sure if anything like that jumped out at me in Satantango, but private car ownership in Hungary seems to be a more modern phenomenon(?) I'm just guessing here.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hey, nice point about private car ownership! I, too, was on alert for place-time markers and noted hardly anything significant: certainly not as significant as the moon landing. Cheers!

[@annah5867]

I recently finished this book, so it's nice to see a review about it! I found it very difficult at times, but it kept me thinking about how it could be translated into film: I look forward to finding out, eventually.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I've always contended that to properly translate a book into film, it would require many more hours of footage than the average person is willing to commit. The Tarr film validates it, as it very nearly carries the totality of the book onto the screen. It's remarkable.

[@davidhall8656]

Just finished this book and appreciate having found yours and several other thoughtful reviews. The style reminded me a bit of Bernhard, and the circular form reminded me of Cortozar's Continuity of Parks, but really it's own thing. Not sure I'll ever get to the movie, but hope to read some of his other works. Thanks as always.

[@dchan617]

Home sick today anyway, this gave me inspiration to start watching the film on Criterion’s streaming service. It’s been waiting in my queue, don’t know that I will make in a single day like you Chris. That is some determination.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I really need to subscribe to the Criterion Channel. Been wanting to watch Tarkovsky’s Mirror!

[@marinamaccagni5253]

This book is amazing! actually all his books! Thank you for this awesome review.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks, Marina! I'm very excited to continue with LK's repertoire!

[@lizparr1264]

thank you! saw the film first and was entranced and intrigued and beautifully bewildered - am now reading the book....will relisten to your thoughts on this and look forward to your other presentations

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Isn’t the film something?! What an experience.

[@meyersmegafictionalmusings7692]

Finished it a few days ago. This was great Chris. Thanks!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Isn’t Laszlo a treat?! 🙌

[@markmorrison7785]

The ending was foreshadowed in the quotations throughout. I thought they indicated that it was someone telling the story based on the books by the Doctor; never did I expect it to precisely be what we now know, though. The ending changed everything. It elevated the book to a level higher than what I anticipated and I already had it quite high. Great review! It helped me bring the book into perspective. It won’t leave my mind.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Very well put. And--you're welcome!

[@anthonydimichele837]

Wow, excellent insights! I watched the film because I loved Tarr's last film, The Turin Horse, and wanted to see "more"~! The "Esti & the Cat" scene was very disturbing (I have done a lot of social work with emotionally and mentally disturbed people so this hit home hard). I am now reading the novel... and can't wait to 'close the circle'. Thanks again, I came here because I was admittedly perplexed by much of the film.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks! Yeah--that cat scene was so rough. I remember telling my own feline friend how much I loved him after watching it, so I can't imagine the impact it must have had on someone in your line of work. I can't wait to get round to _The Turin Horse_ !

[@anthonydimichele837]

@@LeafbyLeaf I just finished the novel last night... I liked the novel more than the film, and I am sure I'll read it again. ~~~ next, I will listen to your take on T Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. I have read it but want to re-read it with a little more background on HOW to read it! You are a real "find" as far as literary criticism goes! Many thanks for all your work.

[@martingarcia3360]

Okay, hi again Chris, you amazing inspiration and all I want to thank you for for showing me this story and for tingling my brain with gems of your understanding of this book that I could not tear away from save when an important call came in or when the bathroom needed me or when….. I had to refill my drink with palinka. Anywho, you’re a daily inspiration for me to continue reading and I want to make a video going over this book much like you have and thank you time and time again for showing me that reading is far from dead and that maybe I should read more reviews.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hey there! Thanks so much for your wonderful comment. Reading is, indeed, far from dead! It's such a exciting and stimulating activity when you find the right book. That's the key. Please let me know when your video is available. All my best to you, and happy reading!

[@martingarcia3360]

@@LeafbyLeaf kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5jPZ4FjfLuGe6c Forgive the quality.

[@thunderwood]

Almost picked this up at the bookstore last week!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I'll bet the book is still there. Waiting. Hopeful.

[@roberttamas8334]

As a Hungarian I am really glad that you enjoyed the work of Krasznahorkai. I encourage you to reach out for Nádas Péter, he is a genius too. :)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks! I’ve got both of Nádas’s big books. Now to read them!

[@voyagetoart3115]

How do people receive Krasznahorkai's books in Hungary? Is he famous there?

[@roberttamas8334]

@@voyagetoart3115 He is famous, but because of his style not a lot of people reads his novels.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks for the question and the insight!

[@rickharsch8797]

Mysteries! An old favorite!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I’ve had an itch to read The Growth of the Soil recently.

[@krisztiankmety4608]

I'd like to add some points to your flow of thinking. The book was published in 1985 before the fall of communism. Irimiás was hired/blackmailed (you could have been sentenced to prison if you don't work for three months) by the secret police to spy on the people of the village (not uncommon in that era), that's why he writes the letter about the villagers, which later on had to be "downsized" by the officers in order to make it more understandable/proffesional-like. (Excellent humour there) The speech on freedom by the half-drunk officer is an outstanding part of the film.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for your insightful comments!

[@dedalus1289]

Having watched the Werkmeister movie a couple of months ago, stirred to watch Bela Tarr's films due to our surnames and today, browsing the shelves of the secondhand bookshop I work at two days a week for any new arrivals, taking Krasznahorkai's the Melancholy of Resistance novel off the shelf and reading the first page and realised that they were one of the same brought me to this video review. Mind blown.

[@mateojaramilloamaya4048]

LOVED this book. Cant wait to continue the tetralogy :)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Indeed! Same here on both counts!

[@jonnypaul7260]

I'm just about to finish Baron Wenckheim's Homecoming. I've been reading his work since it was first published in English about ten years ago. It's an incredible project with a strange conclusion. Nevertheless, between these works and others he's proven himself time and again to be one of the greatest authors alive, if not the greatest.

[@signifiature]

Glad you included the film in your review too! I remember my first viewing. It was... grueling.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Indeed!

[@rickharsch8797]

That sudden transition(?) Was hilarious

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Which? From book to film?

[@rickharsch8797]

@@LeafbyLeaf yeah, suddenly yer back...even though i knew it was coming it was very funny.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Haha!

[@Robert-si5su]

Let’s go! Haven’t read the book yet but I need to

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Do stop back and let me know your experience!

[@rickharsch8797]

Way to convey fun...best thing about this one, in my opinion

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks, Rick!

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

I can’t even yet, get, gather my words-thoughts for such a review…but infinite gratitude.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

🙏

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

@@LeafbyLeaf just finished a book, you would love, that is a little of this, Krasznahorkai, Bela Tar, David Foster Wallace, Godard, Beckett, and pretty much every other movie or book you can think of. “Antkind” by Charlie Kaufman.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Congratulations. You are the first person who has really seized my interest in Antkind. I think I’ll finally order a copy. Thanks!

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

@@LeafbyLeaf I’d seen your Clifford Sergeantlee collab, and perused, skimmed your channel, but either existence-age-depression, prevented my subscription, even though was immensely interested. New Cliff review, new reminder, onomatopoeia!!! “Sátantángó” guess you could say you and I are living algorithms.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

😂😂

[@b1oho]

Hi Chris, Thanks for the review! DVD came today excited! Chasing Homer by László Krasznahorkai, Szilveszter Miklós (Hardcover) out in October.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Nice! Oh, yes--I placed my preorder weeks ago!

[@amysullivan8358]

Enjoyed your review because I recently finished listening to the book on audible (which I found challenging due to the long sentence structure) and today saw the 7.5 hour film at a theater (the new 4K version). This was my second time seeing the film. First time I saw a DVD at home. After listening to your review, I kind of wanna go back and read the book again sometime. Or maybe try to listen to it again? The one part of the story that really confuses me both in the film and the book is the section where the clerks are looking at Irimias’ rude description of the towns, people and rephrasing them to be more polite. I’m not sure why the clerks are doing this work. Did Irimias set them all up to be arrested or imprisoned by the state or tried for the death of the little girl? I don’t get it. But maybe since it’s the imagining of the doctor, it doesn’t matter that much if it really makes sense. Still, I do wonder about it.

[@arturoloredo4123]

Amazing review

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks!

[@lunanielsen9144]

my favourite film and one of my favourite books

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Right on!

[@Khepera666]

Very inspiring. I haven't read Krasznahorkai yet, but I was saddened when Béla Tarr retired from making films.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks! And now I'm keen on checking out his other films, perhaps starting with The Turin Horse.

[@Khepera666]

@@LeafbyLeaf The Turin Horse is nothing short of a masterpiece!

[@violinsinthevoid4579]

@@LeafbyLeaf The Turin Horse and Satantango are both masterpieces, but I would have to place my favorite film of his as Werkmeister Harmonies. I just discovered your channel and quite love it!

[@dcdc139]

Started reading this book last night. It's unlike anything I've read before. Already went ahead and ordered War and War as well as The Melancholy of Resistance.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Krasznahorkai has been such an astonishing experience for me. I snatched up everything I could find. Including a pre-order for the upcoming book Chasing Homer.

[@dcdc139]

@@LeafbyLeaf In terms of Eastern European writers, I've also been reading Olga Tokarczuk. Have you read her yet? Her major masterpiece The Books of Jakob is supposed to come out in english in early 2022.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I read her story in last week’s New Yorker (“Yenta”) and I was very impressed! But that’s the extent of my reading of her.

[@martingarcia3360]

Just now finished this movie and the circle closing was lost to me. I realized some scenes were seen from different angles but maybe this is simply me not reading the book first. I loved it. It made me think about my expectation for film and how a still shot makes me uncomfortable because I’m expecting to be excited constantly though movies. The cat scene was hard to watch. I didn’t even lift my beer to drink it.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

And I will always have to wonder what the film had been like without having read the move... I totally agree and the squirmishness and suffocation of the lingering shots--it was excruciating for me! Yeah, that cat scene... Some thing won't soon leave the mind.

[@barrymoore4470]

@@LeafbyLeaf American film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum, a tremendous fan of both Tarr and Krasznahorkai, assures that the cat used for filming was not actually harmed in the process, and in fact was adopted as a pet by Tarr after the film wrapped.

[@lunanielsen9144]

i highly recommend checking out the melancholy of resistance easily his magnum opus

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Oh-I’ll be checking out everything he writes (including his latest, Chasing Homer, which was excellent)!

[@jonathangort2595]

I thought your invocation of Hamsun's Mysteries was an interesting reference. You should read War & War by Krasznahorkai. Korin, the protagonist of that novel, reminded me of Johan Nilsen Nagel from Mysteries a lot--they are both suicidal and fulfill the archetype of an eccentric wanderer that leaves everyone they speak to feeling very confused.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

As if I weren't already looking forward to reading more Krasznahorkai--you come and get me even more jazzed! Thanks!

[@dusantomic4898]

Sadly I just saw your channel today. It's amazing, keep up the great work. I'm currently The Melancholy of Resistance and it's amazing. Btw, if you need channel material and amazing books to read, then focus on Serbian literature, you can be held there for years due to our rich literature.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Hey there-thanks! Can you give me some specific titles? Looking foreword to it!

[@dusantomic4898]

@@LeafbyLeaf Heya! That’s a tough task, I’ll name some that I think are great. Have in mind that these are not all by any means, but I tried to name some of the best work from our famous authors so you can "meet" them and see if you click. I also hope you will be able to find English translations. As far as I know they were all translated, some are quite famous work, but if you manage to find it I think you’d love most of it, if not all. Borislav Pekić: The Golden Fleece (its literally huge, it's 7 big books, but if you find it and read it I think it would be one of the best books you ever read), How to Quiet a Vampire: A Sotie, The New Jerusalim Ivo Andrić (Nobel Prize winner): The Damned Yard (must read), The Bridge on the Drina Milorad Pavić: Dictionary of the Khazars (you will love it), The Landscape Painted with Tea Miloš Crnjanski: The Journal of Čarnojević Danilo Kiš: The Enclylopedia of the Dead, Garden, Ashes, A Tomb for Boris Davidovich, Early Sorrows Aleknsadar Tišma: The Use of Man Goran Petrović: The Siege of the Saint Salvation Church (iirc this one entered top 10 of best foreign books in France, which is huge. He's still writing) Rastko Petrović: The Sixth Day Bora Stanković: Impure Blood

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for this! I have Dictionary of the Khazars and A Tomb for Boris Davidovich-though I’ve not read them yet. But you’ve given me a good list to take with me on an upcoming book shopping trip!

[@VisualFeast7557]

If you like E. and Cent. European literature, I would recommend my country's (Lithuania) author Ričardas Gavelis and his book Vilnius Poker, also Russian Varlam Shalamov Kolyma Tales , Check Jaroslav Hašek The Good Soldier Švejk. You probably know Russian Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Lithuanian/Polish Czesław Miłosz.

[@DukeNico]

Vilnius Poker was a great and frightening ride. The last part is a stunning conclusion, and I got to think a lot about Vytautas after reading it. I hope being Lithuanian is not too much like his mind!

[@VisualFeast7557]

@@DukeNico That state of mind was not only the protagonist's experiences but also the representation of a period and political, social situation (authoritarian regime, all the oppressions, crumbling Vilnius old town, and occupation of Lithuania).

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much for these suggestions. The only "Lithuanian" book I've read is Pan Tadeusz (just joking, of course; based on the opening line of the Polish epic, because of the geography at the time). I'm going to buy Vilnius Poker right away!

[@mattjmjmjm4731]

Your best video.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Thanks so much!

[@michaelcost7733]

Hello, should i read the book or watch the film first in your opinion. (Sidenote: i am more of a movie fan)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Well, I'm more of a book fan, so I always read the book first. But: to each their own. :)

[@michaelcost7733]

Ok, thanks

[@MaximTendu]

Double treat. Köszi. Now you may want to take a rest with a colorized version of Calvin&Hobbes.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Szívesen! Great advice!

[@AndalusianIrish]

Ooh! I have heard good things about this.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

The good things are legitimate.

[@Kujiranoai]

Great channel, but I'm worried you haven't heard of Thomas Bernhard. Please tell me you have!

[@LeafbyLeaf]

That is a totally legitimate concern, but you can rest at ease. I have heard plenty about Bernhard. I haven't yet read him, though. What would be your recommended starting point?

[@hypercat5274]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Seiobo There Below, a transforming reading (and life) experience for me.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I look forward to continuing into LK's world!

[@darrelsvids158]

Have you read Nick Joaquin?

[@LeafbyLeaf]

No, I haven't! Which would you recommend as a starting point?

[@darrelsvids158]

@@LeafbyLeaf Haven't studied much of his work yet, but i'm planning on getting to that, as i am an aspiring writer and want to read books. But i think a good starting point would be his Cave and Shadows, and The Woman Who Had Two Navels. And maybe his collection of poetry, "Prose and poems".

[@rickharsch8797]

I think you can read him without even thinking about sentences.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I agree.

[@ellismanning3163]

Melancholy of Resistance potentially on the horizon for you?

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Without question, yes.

[@contemporaryfilmreviews5583]

i don't believe the film (haven't read the book) is critiquing collectivism. The fall of the villagers was not in their unification but rather exploitation from the leader. Poet came and took advantage of miserable living conditions and collective desperation, swayed them with his fancy meaningless words and took the money. Collectivism is not the enemy here, that role belongs to praying individuals (or elite, when you look at it with sociological angle). That's why revolution has to come after (or with) the proper education (also in a cultural sense) of the masses - or else false prophets would dress up as saviors and desperate nation will accept anything that is offered, not realising it's a trap (like what happened to communist-totaliterian states)

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Wow, thank you so much for this insight!

[@joseramirez-hh2sw]

7.5 hr ............... I think I'll rather read the book.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

Haha! Of course, you could split it up into parts (the film itself is split into sections according to the book) if you do choose to watch it.

[@davidtindall5847]

@@LeafbyLeaf Great to find your booktuber channel! I split film 'Satantango' viewing over several days, much easier and you don't loose much, such a great film very few people I meet are even familiar with it and skeptical. My alltime fave character in cinema has got to be Kelemen, the cart driver.

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I want to watch it again soon in segments just as you say. Glad you found me!

[@lucaantinori5861]

ayo u look exactly Liam Neeson😂

[@LeafbyLeaf]

I get that all the time!