Szerelmesfilm / Love Film

István Szabó: Szerelmesfilm / Love Film (HU 1970).

Elokuva rakkaudesta / En film om kärlek.
    HU 1970. PC: Mafilm. D+SC: István Szabó. DP: József Lörincz – b&w and colour – 1,66:1. AD: Tamás Vayer. COST: Erzsébet Mialkovszky. Make-up: Ábrisné Basilides, Edit Basilides, András Tolnai. M: János Gonda. S: György Kovács, György Pintér. ED: György Sívó. CAST: Judit Halász (Kata), András Bálint (Jancsi), Edit Kelemen (Kata as a child), András Szamosfalvi (Jancsi as a child), Rita Békes (Klári), Erzsébet Mialkovszky (young Kata), Éva Berényi (young Jancsi), Mária Baga, Erika Kúnszenti (Jutka), Péter Huszti (Karcsi), Ervin Csomák, Tamás Eröss (Pattantyús), György Aranyossy (Klári férje), Iván Mándy (doctor), Kati Andai (Magdi), Lucyna Winnicka (Ágnes).
    There is reportedly a 143 min version. This version 123 min. A Filmunio print with English subtitles. Viewed at Cinema Orion (tribute to István Szabó), 20 May 2009.
    A worn print with scratches, print partly all red, partly reddish, heavy scratches in the changeovers, yet watchable.

AA: The story of Kata and Jancsi, separated by the tragedy of history, Hungary's 1956 uprising and its violent aftermath.

Like in Jules et Jim, tragic truths are approached playfully, yet not flinching from the terror.

A poetic film does not follow the conventions of narration. It moves in various time dimensions, and includes direct address to the spectator. The protagonists are simultaneously children, young persons, and adults in the anti-chronological narration.

There are sequences of rapid cutting. There are recurrent motifs (holding hands, the carp in the tub).

The main continuity is the adult Jancsi's train voyage from Budapest to Paris to meet Kata. They still love each other after many years and across the cultural and political abyss. One of Jancsi's friends has become an American soldier and may be on his way to Vietnam. "If we happen to fight on opposite sides one day, don't shoot me". (Qf. Jules et Jim).

Interesting Neo-Baroque music by János Gonda. Virtuoso editing by György Sívó.