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Film Series: A New Wave in Hungary

November 21, 22, 23


In cooperation with the National Gallery of Art, the Kossuth House Social Club is pleased to bring you these three films, the first two of which are the first cinematographic productions of their respective directors. They are representatives of a new generation of young filmmakers that has emerged in Hungary, the first since the collapse of the state-run system.
previous Films screened by the National Gallery of Art

A Kis Utazás/Le Petit Voyage/The Litte Voyage
November 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Eastern European films have always had a special place for the personal history, the people's-eye, ground level view of a now discredited past. In this breezy, sarcastic story, set in the 1970s, a group of Hungarian teenagers win the coveted prize of a trip "abroad"--a summer's labor at a GDR youth camp. The supposed national characteristics of the Germans and the Hungarians sometimes come into play, but the real comedy is provided by incomprehension of other kinds; the usual gap between teenagers and adults is everywhere altered by the hypocritical need to pay "lip service" to the building of socialist character. There isn't much political fervor among the kids, and there surely isn't much international solidarity among the unruly rebels who sneak out of group singing to experience the joys of drink, making out, and rock and roll. The film captures a vanished moment in modern history that people who grew up in any part of Communist Europe will recognize. (Mihály Buzás, 1999, 100 minutes)
  • Official site

    Elôre!/Forward!
    November 22 at 7:30 p.m.
    This is the story of a friendship in the early eighties when socialism still seemed to be sound. Zoli and Miki are best friends, sit in the same desk and hang out together after school. Kutas, Zoli's father is one of the few dissidents, producing leaflets and publishing a samizdat newspaper in order to call attention to the inconsistencies of the regime. Kerekes, Miki's father, is the district party secretary; got into a high position quite young; determined people's fate at his will and pleasure. No one wonders about that, however, as he only does as he has to with the regular manners of that time. Due to the kids' friendship, two of the fathers are enforced to be in contact time by time, thoguh the only thing they have in common is their interest in the young and pretty teacher of their kids. A school excursion changes the life of all of them... (Dániel Erdélyi, 2002, 82 minutes)

  • Official site
    [The director will be present at the screening to discuss the film]

    Cigánytörvény/Romani Kris/Gypsy Lore
    November 23 at 7:30 p.m.
    "Once upon a time there was an old gypsy. He had never left the hill where he lived. He never went to the inn, nor read the newspaper or watched Dallas. He was a proud man who liked to tell stories. Even though he avoided the church, he knew what the fear of God was. The old gypsy was blessed by three beautiful daughters whom he loved more than anything else. The two older ones soon found husbands, but the youngest Sarolta only walked up hill and down dale. She was the apple of his eye..." This is the beginning of Romani Kris. The film shows the gypsy Lovér and the village idiot Tamáska on their dramatic and adventurous journey through a Hungarian landscape at times lush and at times barren to present a lyrical, magical and unforgettable story. (Bence Gyöngyössy, 1997, subtitled, 93 minutes)

  • Official site

    Special thanks to Magda Zalan and Katalin Vajda (Filmunio, Budapest)

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