Werckmeister harmóniák
Werckmeister Harmonies - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
How mysterious is the Lord that he amuses Himself with such strange creatures.
— János Valuska
Context:
János has just seen the taxidermied whale for the first time, displayed inside a large truck container as part of the travelling circus. He is mesmerized by the creature's scale and strange beauty, and his words are a quiet reflection on the profound mysteries of nature and existence, spoken to György Eszter.
Meaning:
This quote, whispered by János as he gazes at the enormous, dead whale, captures his sense of awe and wonder in the face of the sublime and the inexplicable. It reflects his innocent, almost religious perspective, where even a decaying carcass is a testament to the mysterious grandeur of creation. The line underscores the film's central tension between a search for meaning and the cold, silent indifference of the universe.
They think because they are afraid. To be afraid is to understand nothing.
— Unidentified character (in some analyses)
Context:
The precise context for this quote within the film is not consistently documented in critical analyses, but it reflects the general atmosphere of existential dread and the irrational behavior of the crowds gathering in the town square, influenced by the rumors surrounding the Prince.
Meaning:
This quote encapsulates a core philosophical idea of the film: that the descent into mob mentality and violence is rooted in fear, not understanding. It suggests that the townspeople's destructive actions are a reaction to a profound anxiety and confusion they cannot articulate. Their violence is a desperate attempt to impose a brutal, simplistic meaning on a world they no longer comprehend. The statement critiques the illusion of control that comes from fear-based thinking.
I have to make it clear that not even for a moment is there doubt that it is not a technical but a philosophical question.
— György Eszter
Context:
György says this during his monologue to János, explaining his obsession with the imperfections of the well-tempered scale. He is trying to impress upon János that his research is not just about music, but about a foundational error in how humanity perceives and structures the world.
Meaning:
With this statement, György elevates his critique of musical tuning from a mere technical debate to a profound philosophical problem concerning the very nature of order and truth. He argues that Werckmeister's standardized system represents a fundamental 'lie' that has shaped all of Western culture, prioritizing artificial tidiness over natural, complex harmony. It frames the entire film's conflict as a struggle between authentic, chaotic reality and the flawed, oppressive systems created to contain it.