Love / Szerelem (1971)
Director: Károly Makk
Starring: Lili Darvas, Mari Törõcsik
A woman's husband has been arrested by the Hungarian secret police and imprisoned as a dissident. The young wife comforts her mother-in-law by concocting a series of letters from her husband, wherein he does incredible and wonderful things. The two of them share the older lady's memories of a gentler time.
Love is a Hungarian film directed by Károly Makk, based on writings by Tibor Déry an author who was a political prisoner. It screened at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival where it received the Jury Prize. It was also selected in 2000 as one of the Budapest 12 a list of the 12 best Hungarian films.
This is set in the early 1950s, an era of political persecution under Mátyás Rákosi, in which many Hungarians were imprisoned or executed. The story follows the deep bond shared between two women, Luca (Mari Törõcsik) the young wife of Janos, a political prisoner, and her ailing and bed ridden mother in law (Lili Darvas). Luca does not know the whereabouts of Janos or even if he is still alive, yet she still visits her mother in law daily, bringing flowers and cookies and 'gifts' from Janos to cheer her spirits. She protects Az from the truth by writing letters pretending to be Janos, who is busy in America making films.
Many of the scenes in the film are cleverly interrupted with rapidly cut images of flashbacks, memories and thoughts that cleverly allow us into the minds of the characters and provide an interesting layer of insight into their relationship. Some of these images suggest that perhaps deep down inside, Az really does know the truth, but is happier to play along with the ruse than to accept it. Both the performances here from Lili Darvas and Mari Törõcsik (who is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses) are amazingly believable and presented with a subtle touch that keeps the film from becoming too sentimental or bleak despite the heavily emotional and political themes.
Makk has created a brilliantly powerful film that both captures the sense of dread that comes from living under a totalitarian regime; and expresses the feelings and plight of his characters in a perfectly poetic way, all without resorting to any heavy handed preaching.
Labels: Budapest 12, Hungary
Through the wonders of the internet...
That sounds like a great premise for a story but I don't know about watching a movie.
Something that would be copied in many future movies, the plight of somebody being told a different way.
Yeah, It's difficult finding trailers for some of these rare films. But that clip doesn't really spoil anything, it's just maybe a bit long for an introduction.
How do you do it? finding all those great movies :D
I was going to watch that video.. but I decided I wanted to watch the whole of it. I won't ruin it for myself.
Arne Adolfsen said...
"Az öregasszony" means "the old woman", with "az" meaning "the". It's not a name.
Thank you for that.
Random Musings of the Month - July 2011
Sinbad (1971)
Children (2011)
Touching the Void (2003)
Nobody Knows (2004)
A Little Trip to Heaven (2005)
The Wildest Dream (2010)
The Red and The White (1968)
Marwencol (2010)
Silence and Cry (1967)
The Round-Up (1966)
Father (1966)
The Third Man (1949)
The Yellow Sea (2010)
Trust (2010)
Merry-Go-Round (1956)
Children of Invention (2009)
Professor Hannibal (1956)
The Way (2010)
Nokas (2010)
The Lost Bladesman (2011)
Somewhere in Europe (1948)
Cold Fish (2010)
Men on the Mountain (1942)
Let the Bullets Fly (2010)
Hyppolit, The Butler (1931)
Spotlight on Hungarian Cinema