Hungarian Composer Mihály Víg Discusses Four-Decade Collaboration with Béla Tarr at Shanghai Festival
8 reported
Mihály Víg, the Hungarian composer, actor and screenwriter who has worked with director Béla Tarr for more than four decades, spoke at a masterclass during the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival following a screening of "The Turin Horse." Víg’s collaboration with Tarr began in 1984 when the director tracked him down after seeing him in a friend’s concert footage, and their first meeting led to an invitation to score "Almanac of Fall." Víg, who had no prior film composing experience, described an unconventional workflow where he completes every musical composition before principal photography begins, working from the screenplay rather than the finished cut. He explained that he, Tarr and screenwriter László Krasznahorkai share a fundamental creative conviction about people avoiding the true nature of existence, which means his scores rarely require lengthy revisions. Víg also addressed the perception of Tarr as a "tyrant" on set, recalling the director as mild-tempered, never raising his voice, and handling grievances privately. He pushed back against readings of "The Turin Horse" as simply nihilistic, arguing that even unrelenting tragedy contains threads of comedy and that the film offers a sense of catharsis.
What’s reported
Mihály Víg has served as Béla Tarr’s closest creative partner for more than four decades.
Their collaboration began in 1984 when Tarr invited Víg to score "Almanac of Fall."
Víg completes every musical composition before principal photography begins, working from the screenplay.
Víg, Tarr and screenwriter László Krasznahorkai share a conviction that people avoid confronting the true nature of existence.
Víg recalled Tarr as mild-tempered on set, never raising his voice, and addressing grievances privately.
Víg named "Damnation" and "The Turin Horse" as his personal favorite scores, and "Sátántangó" as his favorite among Tarr’s features.
Krasznahorkai once left a screenplay argument with Tarr and returned two days later with a sixty-page short story that became the foundation for "The Turin Horse."
The production team searched for a horse with a sufficiently sorrowful gaze for "The Turin Horse" and ensured the animal was placed in a comfortable home after filming.
Misconceptions
The source article addresses the misconception that Tarr is a "tyrant" on set, with Víg offering a contrasting picture of the director as mild-tempered. It also addresses the reading of "The Turin Horse" as simply nihilistic, with Víg arguing it contains threads of comedy and offers catharsis.
Key figures
Mihály Víg: Hungarian composer, actor and screenwriter
Béla Tarr: Hungarian film director
László Krasznahorkai: Hungarian screenwriter
Miklós Jancsó: Hungarian director, personal mentor to Tarr
Sources: Variety
