SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE (1947)

3rd Hungarian Film Showcase in London

"Somewhere in the World"
22-28 June 2010

Somewhere in Europe (1947)


Director: Geza von Radvanyi
Writer: Bela Balazs

Geza von Radvanyi's name is well known among the best historical movie makers worldwide. He was a Hungarian film director, producer and writer.
Before starting his career in the film industry he made himself known as a journalist, and was a producer assistant and screenwriter in different but mainly French and German film factories.

In 1937 he's married to Maria Fekete Tasnadi who played several roles in his future films.

As a film-maker his aim was to create a successful cinema in Hungary in the 50s and 60s, what would compete Hollywood studios.

One of his most famous works is the Somewhere in Europe, which he made in 1947 (Hungarian title: Valahol Europaban).


The film is described as his best by many historians. Set in the 40s, it's about children (played by orphans), who in order to survive have to form a gang and rob for food. They found a ruined castle where they intend to live, not knowing that it belongs to an elderly musician, who they want to rob him too, but there's a twist, and the building becomes their hiding-place.

With great black-and-white cinematography the film is recommended for everyone who loves children, history, in short, for everyone who loves movies.

CAT CITY (1986)

3rd Hungarian Film Showcase in London

"Somewhere in the World"
22-28 June 2010

Cat City / Macskafogo (1986)



Director: Bela Ternovszky

ANIMAL FARM (1954)

3rd Hungarian Film Showcase in London

"Somewhere in the World"
22-28 June 2010

Animal Farm (1954)


Director: John Halas and Joy Batchelor

John Halas was a Hungarian animator who was born in Budapest, 1912. His involvement with animation lead him to work with George Pal. While working and studying in Budapest, Hungary, he's met Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. Halas due to the lack of work at the hungarian studio, accepted a job in Paris where he continued the same studies he had begun in Budapest.
He moved to London in 1936, to complete a production of Music Man (1938), where he met his future wife, Joy Batchelor, who also worked on the film.

First Halas and Batchelor worked as a graphic desing partnership in the pre-war period, they were married in 1940, and in the same year they have founded the Halas and Batchelor studio to make animated advertisements for clients of the J. Walter Thompson agency, such as Kellogs and Lux.

Their work was easily identified by the combination of Disney-style characters and Eastern European aesthetics. During the war Halas and Batchelor worked on public information films for government departments. From 1940 to the late 1950's the studio was firmly associated with the production of propaganda and public information films. Its UK profile was further enhanced with the production of the Charlie-series (1946-47) for the Central Office of Information.

These films were the starting point from which the studio was able embark on its largest production: Animal Farm (1954). (Source and reference: www.ucreative.ac.uk, University for Creative Arts online; www.screenonline.org.uk/people)


"Britain’s first full length Animated feature based on George Orwell’s novel. Animal Farm captures the spirit of Orwell’s timeless political allegory with compassion. A fine example of classic animation, the film remains today as relevant as ever. The story of the animal’s uprising and their inevitable discovery that even amongst themselves some are more equal than others."


Production: John Halas, Joy Batchelor
Direction: John Halas, Joy Batchelor
Script: Joy Batchelor, Philip Stapp, Lothar Wolf
Design: John Halas, Joy Batchelor, Digby Turpin, Bernard Carey
Animation: John Reed, Arthur Humberston, Ralph Ayries, Eddy Radage, Harold Whitaker
Music: Matyas Seiber
(Information source: www.halasandbatchelor.co.uk)

IMMIGRANTS (L.A. Dolce Vita) (2008)

3rd Hungarian Film Showcase in London

"Somewhere in the World"
22-28 June 2010

Immigrants (L.A. Dolce Vita) (2008)


The Director, Gabor Csupo is a chairman and co-founder of Klasky Csupo Inc., the entertainment industry's leading independent animation company.

He was born in Budapest, Hungary, studied music for eight years and art for four, before starting his professional training in animation in Hungary's famous Pannonia Studios in 1971. In 1975 from the communist Hungary he's escaped to Austria, then without passport and any resources he's travelled to West Germany, then to Denmark, and then to Stockholm, Sweden.

In 1978 he's met and fell in love with Arlene Klasky, and American graphic designer. He's moved to Hollywood in 1979, where they've got married.

Csupo's first job was at the legendary Hanna Barbera Studios, where he worked as an animator.

In 1981, Klasky and Csupo formed their own animation company, Klasky Csupo Inc., in a spare room of their apartment. In 1983 they've moved to their real office, expanding into motion graphics and live-action production.

Arlene Klasky and Gabor Csupo in 2002

In 1988 Klasky Csupo was asked by director James L. Brooks to animate a cartoon strip, "The Simpsons". For its efforts, Klasky Csupo garnered worldwide recognition and Emmy Awards two years in a row.

Continuing to break a new ground, Csupo co-developed, produced and animated the "Rugrats" series, and in 1988 he's co-produced "The Rugrats Movie" and "Rugrats in Paris: The Movie".

Csupo himself has presided designing, supervising, animating commercials, company logos, TV stations, motion picture trailers, on-air network productions and industrial films.

As and expression of his long-life passion for music Csupo founded the record labels Tone Casulties and Casual Tonalities in 1994.

The Director's latest work is "The Bridge to Terabithia".

(Source: www.klaskycsupo.com)

The Immigrants, the fifth feature-length film from Klasky Csupo was released in 2008, and is about Joska, the Hungarian, and Vladislav, the Russian, who're oping for a better life by chasing the American Dream, tons of money and loads of women. They share an apartment in Los Angeles, and get into all sorts of troubles together, and throughout their adventures they learn the true meaning of friendship.

LAST REPORT ON ANNA (2009)

3rd Hungarian Film Showcase in London

"Somewhere in the World"
22-28 June 2010

Last Report on Anna (2009)

Director: Marta Meszaros

Q & A with the director (by Aniko Goracz, 15th October 2009, Hungary, source: www.magyar.film.hu)

Q: Was your intention with Anna Kethly to show a positive female character from the 20th century's Hungary to your audience?

A: When I make a film I have no intention to creat a heroic example. I start to work on a screenplay only if I have a feeling that there's an interesting person in the story, and if as a director I'm able to add something to it. This time I had two main goals: to create a realistic picture about the 70s, about its depressing atmosphere and of course to introduce Anna Kethly, her amazing personality, who was always loyal to her own beliefs and in many aspects she was a romantic politician. She has chosen this profession not for the money or the career, but for the ideas she had faith in.

Q: You had previous films that were based on famous women's lives. Is this only a coincidence that your main character is woman in your new film?

A: Well, journalists like to say things like that I'm working only with female heroes. But the truth is that I don't care for the gender, but the personality. I have to say that women in Hungary are very poorly treated in politics, as well as in the world of art. It is very hard to be a writer or politician, than in Poland for example, where we've seen women in wide range of positions, from the national bank to the town hall's chair in Warsaw. Kethly was the one and only woman in the parliament for quite a long time in the 20th century.

Q: Beside your regular actors we see new faces as well in the "Last Report on Anna". How have chosen the right actor to the right character?

A: I do like to work with the same actors in my films. Lili Monori's emphatic appearance has been essential, and it was very important for me to see her on the screen in the key moments of the story. Zsuzsa Cinkoczi's character is simple, but strong personality.

I haven't worked with Eniko Eszenyi before, but while writing the screenplay I knew already, that she is the perfect person to play Anna Kethly. To play someone interesting, feminine, independent and strong, the actor has to have the same attributes in some aspects.

Adel Kovats is thrilling by playing Kethly's antagonist. Erno Fekete is the male protagonist in the film, not very well known, but also a great talent.

Plot: Hungary's most influential emigre politician, Anna Kethly fought dictatorship in her whole life. A young historian-turned-agent from Budapest is given the task to entice her to return home. History, adventure and love entwine to create a compelling end enjoyable story of everyday betrayals and exceptional fidelity.

Eniko Eszenyi, the award-wining actress is the protagonist of Meszaros's film

Profession
1983 - resident member of the Vígszínház
1991 - guest director of the Budapesti Kamaraszínház
1992 – director of the Vígszínház
1996 – guest director in Prague and in Bratislava, in Warsaw and in Washington

Eszenyi Enikő as a director won the award of the best director of the year on several occasions both at the Hungarian Theatre Festival and at the Critics Special Award.

She made her debut with her first production, Leonce and Lena that won seven prizes of the Hungarian Theatre Festival including the best direction and the best production of the season.



The success of this first production recurred in the coming-up seasons: in 1992 West Side Story, which Enikő Eszenyi directed in the biggest theatre of Budapest, in the Vígszínház with an auditorium of 1200 seats won the award of the best direction, and her production of Kate of Heilbronn by Heinrich von Kleist won the award of best production and direction of the year in 1995.


The director Eszenyi Enikő’s unique talent is that she has a special gift to work with actors in a way that will surely be a fascinating and unusual experience for each of them. She has the talent to bring out the hidden potentiality that is inherent in an actor.


Seeing Eszenyi’s production, we will surely admire again and again the brilliant acting, no matter if it is a minor role or a lead. What else could prove this better than the numerous awards that the actors and actresses won after working in Eszenyi Enikő’s productions. With the first production of Leonce and Lena, three actors, Attila Kaszás, Vera Pap and Péter Vallai won the prizes of best actor and actress and best supporting role of the year, while after the production of Kate of Heilbronn, Antal Cserna received the award of best supporting actor at the Hungarian Theatre Festival.

(Source: the information about the actress-director Eniko Eszenyi is from her own website, for more information please visit www.eszenyi.hu)

PUSKAS HUNGARY (2009)

3rd Hungarian Film Showcase in London

"Somewhere in the World"
22-28 June 2010

Puskas Hungary (2009)



Director: Tamas Almasi

About the Director...

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2007 - Founding member of the DLA commitee
2006 - Associate Professor, University of Film and Drama, Budapest
2006 - Doctor of Liberal Arts
1999 - University lecturer, University of Film and Drama, Budapest
1993 - Film director, Filmdimenzio Kft
2000 - 2003 D.L.A. student, University of Film and Drama, Budapest (subject of doctoral dissertation: the documentary film)
1979 - 1992 Film director, MAFILM - Hungarian Film Laboratory
1978 - 1979 Associate dierctor, partner of Geza Radvanyi film director
1975 - 1979 Student, Film- and Television Director major, Academy of Film and Drama, Budapest
1970 - 1975 Assistant director, MAFILM - Hungarian Film Laboratory (colleague of Istvan Szabo, Zoltan Fabri, Miklos Jancso)

AWARDS:
2005 - Merited Artist of the Hungarian Republic
2003 - Honorary Freeman of the city of Szekesfehervar
2002 - Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic Knight's Cross
1999 - Pulitzer Prize in Hungary
1998 - Award for Hungarian Culture
1998 - Bezeredi Award
1995 - Balazs Bela Award

MOST IMPORTANT FILM FESTIVALS, AWARDS:
Best Documentary Film, Hungarian Film Week - 5 times
Hungarian entry for the 75th Annual Academy Awards
Best First Film, Special Award, Hungarian Film Week
Main Prize, Category Prize, Camera Hungaria
Hungarian Film Critiques Award - 3 times
Main Prize, Best Documentary Prize, Televison Festival at Miskolc
75th Annual Academy Awards, qualification for the competition
Silver Sestertius Award, Nyon Documentary Festival
Golden Gate Awards, Certificate of Merit, San Francisco
Silver Plaque, International Television Competition, Chicago
Special Mention of Prix International de la SCAM, Cinema de Reel, Paris
Special Mention for Documentary, Karlovy Vary
Prix Europa, Berlin
Prix Italia, Bologna
Prix Italia Television Documentary Awards Special Commendation, Naples
FIPA, Biarritz
Gold Special Prize of the Jury, Houston World Fest.
Silver Remy Prize, Houston World Fest.

About the Film...

Cast: Ferenc Puskas, Elisabeth Puskas, Eva Puskas, Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Raymond Kopa, Gyula Grosics, Jeno Buzanszky, Sir Alex Ferguson, Alfredo di Stefano, Michel Platini

Plot:

Puskas Hungary looks back on the life of the greatest Hungarian sportsman who ever lived. Ferenc Puskas was, however, more than just a mere sportsman. He was the god of Hungarian football, which in the 1950s was admired all over the world. Puskas was loved everywhere he played and lived: in Madrid, in Athens, even in Melbourne people would chant his name in stadiums and ask for his autograph. He was, and still is, THE national ambassador of hungary. Everybody has heard his name. Puskas is the first thing that occurs to a foreigner's mind when they hear the country's name. Puskas is Hungary. The documentary takes us through all the main episodes of Puskas' life, including the hardhips of losing the 1954 World Cup final, and having to emigrate abroad under the communist regime. The film is simple, yet moving. It is about a man who not only received, but gave love to everyone he knew. He never let fame and stardom go to his head. He was a true legend.

(Source of the above material and more information: http//almasitamas.hu/)

CLOSE TO LOVE (1999)

3rd Hungarian Film Showcase in London

"Somewhere in the World"
22-28 June 2010

Close to Love (1999)

Director: Andras Salamon

"Salamon's extensive experience with the medium of the documentary clearly assists him in his handling of Close to Love. Well versed in his principle themes by now, Salamon creates his characters with confidence and depth; he allows them to be the basis of the film rather some preordained number of car-chases, shoot-outs and love scenes that directors these days seem to think are absolutely necessary to their film. Ironically, Close to Love does contain a car-chase, a shoot-out and a love-scene but they are their because the characters, and not the director, demand them.

Close to Love is a modest film which has simple aims - to tell a story.
Since it was one of the few films that seemed prepared to do this, it is perhaps no surprise that the film was rewarded with a distinction for the best screenplay."

/Source: by Andrew J Horton, 6 April 1999, Central Europe Review, Kinoeye, http://www.ce-review.org/kinoeye/kinoeye28old1.html/

Cast: Ferenc Hujber, Tsuyu Shimizu, Nimrod Antal, János Gyuriska, Károly Gesztesi, Ervin Nagy, Erzsi Pásztor, András Ambrus, András Fekete, Sarolta Thuroczy

Ferenc Hujber and Tsuyu Shimizu in "Close to Love"



Plot: Karcsi seems to have it all: he fulfilled his dreams in the big city, he is a policeman as he always wanted to be, has a dog and found true love. Yet the fact that his girlfriend is a Chinese immigrant in Budapest means that there is still a lot their love has to conquer.

SUNSHINE (1999)

3rd Hungarian Film Showcase in London

"Somewhere in the World"
22-28 June 2010

Sunshine / A napfény íze (1999)

Director: István Szabó

"Istvan Szabo, one of Hungary's most celebrated film makers, attained international fame with his 1981 German-language film Mephisto, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. But to a broad Hungarian public, as well as to film specialist abroad, Szabo had been well-known since the mid-1960s, when he began his career. His 1999 film Sunshine, starring Ralph Fiennes, Jennifer Ehle, Rachel Weisz, and other English-speaking actors, returns to a historical preoccupations of his earlier films and covers the whole period that has fascinated him throughout his career.

The film tells the history of a Jewish family in Hungary from the late 19th century to the present, with the greatest emphasis on the "golden age" of pre-World War I in Vienna and Budapest, and the grim decades that followed.

Exile was a crucial question for many Hungarians of Szabo's generation (and earlier generations as well), and filmmaking is of course central to Szabo's life. Perhaps the most interesting aspects are his reflections on Jewish identity in Hungary and Central Europe, and on his own family's relation to that identity."

/Source: http://www.kinokultura.com/specials/7/ssi-szabo.shtml, by Susan Rubin Suleiman, 2008. This is intro on the website is followed by a lenghty conversation between Ms Suleiman and Istvan Szabo./

Sunshine Trailer