Hungarian film director Béla Tarr accepted the RIFF 2011 Honorary Award for his lifetime achievement in the film industry from President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson at a celebratory ceremony yesterday.

Béla Tarr. Courtesy of RIFF.

Three of Tarr’s feature films have been screened at the ongoing Reykjavík International Film Festival: Family Nest (1977), Werckmeister Harmonies (2000) and his latest project, The Turin Horse (2011).

According to ruv.is, Tarr made his first film at 22 about the lives of poor Hungarians. His films are described as plain and documentary in style. They are dark and are considered political in nature.

Many world-renowned filmmakers have named Tarr as their biggest influence but when Tarr is asked where his inspiration comes from, he simply answered:

“Life itself,” adding, “To look around and follow real people and how they behave in everyday life. To see their joy, conflictions and sorrows is enough for me.”

Tarr has declared that he is done with filmmaking. “I have worked on filmmaking for 34 years and did what I wanted. I don’t want to repeat myself or imitate myself. That is too ugly. It is enough for me, I’m done.”

ESA