September 3-9, 1918: Health first!
A hundred years ago at the end of World War I, health and wellbeing became important issues for the general public, and evidently, journalists also picked up the topic.
September 10-16, 1918. Last moments of the Austrian-Hungarian connection
These chronicles from 1918 were mainly covering local issues, but they were also up to date on international news. Cameramen were happy to record events representing Hungary's strong international relationships, particularly with allies.
The Lost Talisman
Colour historical film, directed by Zoltán Várkonyi, 1968. The novel by Géza Gárdonyi was not only outright winner of the ‘Big Read’ series but the adaptation for cinema still ranks as the most popular historical film to this day. The country voted on the actors even before filming started and a whole army of extras took part in the ‘Eger castle’ battle at Pilisborosjenő.
November 12-18, 1918. The first Hungarian Republic
On November 13, 1918, Béla Linder Minister without portfolio of the Károlyi cabinet and representatives of the Balkan Entente signed the Belgrade Armistice.
October 8-14, 1918. Calm before the storm
From October, 1918 there were fewer Az Est film news. They no longer appeared on a weekly basis, and the subjects failed to reflect the country's growing tension.
September 24-30, 1918. A disappointing match on Üllői út
The week's most interesting report was about the opening of Gellért Bath, but we also get to witness the unveiling of a memorial, meet a member of the royal family and two popular actors.
October 22-28, 1918. The Revolution begins
Hundred years ago, the night before the Aster Revolution broke out, politicians were running around in panic and people gathered at public events to give and listen to heartfelt speeches.
September 17-23, 1918. An eventful week
The 1918 mid-September news are portraying an exhausted and tormented hinterland at the end of war. Once again, the main location is Budapest, but we also get to join the delegation of German journalist on their trip to Esztergom and Tátra.
What do the films of Márta Mészáros give the world?
Introduction by Eszter Fazekas, digitalization and film restoration manager of the Budapest Film Archive, on the Márta Mészáros day organized in Collegium Hungaricum Berlin, 13 February 2019.
Székely István (1899–1979)
His film Hyppolit the Butler triggered an unprecedented golden age of film in Hungary. Under his influence, comedy became the dominant genre in Hungarian filmmaking, but he actually also experimented with other genres and didn’t stop until he reached Hollywood.
Personal photo album of director of Casablanca
The album containing 40 photographs, which it is thought Warner Bros. Studio made specifically for Michael Curtiz (Mihály Kertész), was gifted to the Film Archive by Linda Goldfarb, the director’s grandniece, who lives in California.
Bowler Hat and Red Nose
Youth film, Hungary, directed by István Lauró Bácskai, 1978. Movie version made on the basis of the series nominated for television’s Oscar prize.
Captain of the Forest
Hungarian animated festure film, directed by Attila Dargay, 1987. Digital remastering supervised by Irén Henrik D.O.P.
The Tot Family
Colour comedy-drama, Hungary – Zoltán Fábri, 1969
December 10-16, 1918. Budapest a hundred years ago
100 years ago film news reported on major political changes, the career of an imaginative international scam artist, a murder that caught the excited public's attention and a football game between jockeys and referees.
December 17-23, 1918. Fight till you drop
Birth of Károlyi's Independent party, the new land reform, the Transylvanian Romanian population's union with Romania, and a boxing match to the final breath at the old House of Representatives
December 24-30, 1918. Last week of 1918
The last week of December was quite eventful: we take a look at how the Revolution affected the stock market, travel to a bank protest, witness a shooting and get mesmerized by French colonial soldiers who were stationed in Budapest.
January 14-20, 1919. Hungary awaits peace
An American peace commission visits Budapest to prepare rightful and reasonable circumstances for peace; university students protest again to keep the country's territorial integrity and Hungary launches its first air mail service. This is what happened in 1919 mid-January.
January 28 - February 3, 1919. Winter joys and aches
The Normafa in 1919 winter was just as beautifully snowy as today, and while the younglings were cheerfully riding their sleighs down the mountain, serious events took place in the city: a funeral was held for Endre Ady, war veterans were fighting for fairness and new political organizations formed.
February 11-17, 1919. Late winter events
Social democratic protest against the country's territorial division, military inspection at the Czechoslovakian demarcation line with Ernő Szép, spahis shot at Perl's restaurant and cab drivers go on strike – this is how late winter looked like a century ago.
February 18-24, 1919. Land reform and illegal shoe trade
There was still tension in the country in February 1919. The traumatizing experience of war is still lingers in the public's mind, and those who are facing a difficult situation fail to see the light at the end.
February 25 - March 3, 1919. Visiting Szatmár
This week's most important news were about Mihály Károlyi's Szatmár visit. The videos are interlinked by French descriptions, which suggests that the surviving copy was made for guests of the French peace conference.
March 18-24, 1919. We enter the Dictatorship of the Proletariat
English warship in Budapest, cannons on the Danube shore at Lágymányos, launching the Hungarian Socialist Party and their first meeting at the parliament on March 23, 300 gypsy musicians play the Marseillaise, and this week's joke: the war millionaire, one of Hungary's first ever animations.
March 25-31, 1919. The Red Army
The Hungarian Soviet Republic's most important and urging task was to build a self-conscious, combat-worthy proletarian army to fight the invading Western capitalism.
April 1-7, 1919. „Erase the past once and for all…”
Pottage for derbies; audience-, cake- and name change at Gerbeaud (to Zserbó); the Pasarét brick factory's 45 meter chimney demolished and 100 year old footages of Sári Fedák recruiting for the Red Army.
April 8-14, 1919. „Everything belongs to us”
The Dictatorship of the Proletariat mourned the loss of Lóránd Eötvös, the military commissary confiscated all the country's horses for the Red Army, ordered all shops to sell their stocks and gave Margaret Island to the proletariat.
April 22-28, 1919. Factory workers in the Red Army
On April 8, 1919 a decision was adopted, making it mandatory for all healthy ex-servicemen factory workers to join the reserve army of laborers. Inspection of the eight regiments took place on April 23 on Andrássy út.
March 11-17, 1919. Last hours of the Republic
In spring 1919 economic struggles united people of all professions, the news reported on the waiters' strike and a humorous animation illustrated the cabbies' walkout.
May 6-12, 1919. „We want to see nothing else but soldiers”
Hinting on ex-Defense Minister Béla Linder's infamous line („I never want to see another soldier again!”), after the May 1st crisis the Proletarian Dictatorship was heading towards the opposite direction and ditched the Károlyi-era's peaceful approach to foreign politics.
May 13-19, 1919. Inspecting the Red Army units
In 1919 mid-May, Commander-in-Chief Vilmos Böhm and Chief-of-Staff Aurél Stromfeld inspected the Eastern front fleet and units to check the reorganized Red Army.
May 20-26, 1919. „Miskolc is ours!”
On May 21, 1919 the workers-reinforced Red Army successfully recaptured Miskolc from the Czechs, which they occupied for almost three weeks.
I'm Shy, But I'll Heal
Je suis timide... mais je me soigne, French comedy, colour, 1978, by Pierre Richard, Language: French, Subtitles: Hungarian subtitles, 85’ Gala screening; Q&A Pierre Richard (06.09. 16:00 Uránia National Film Theatre)
Don't Cry, Pretty Girls!
Szép lányok, ne sírjatok!, Hungarian music drama, colour, 1970, by Márta Mészáros, Language: Hungarian, Subtitles: English, 85’ (08.09. 16:00 Uránia National Film Theatre)
Shortcuts
Postriziny, Czechoslovakian comedy, colour, 1981, by Jiří Menzel, Language: Hungarian, Subtitles: English, 93’ Gala screening; Q&A Magda Vásáryová, Vica Kerekes (05.09. 18:30 Uránia National Film Theatre)
Sisyphus
Hungarian animation in black-and-white, 1974, by Jankovics Marcell, 2' Open-air screening (05.09. 19:30 Szent István square)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
English-American musical, colour, 1975, by Jim Sharman, Language: English, Subtitles: Hungarian, 100’ (07.09. 21:00 Uránia National Film Theatre)
Queen – Hungarian Rhapsody: Live in Budapest 1986
Hungarian concert film in colour, 1986, by János Zsombolyai, Language: English, Subtitles: Hungarian, 90' Open-air screening; Guests: Gábor Szabó, Tamás Andor, János Kende, Sándor Kardos, Emil Novák, Buda Gulyás, Mari Miklós, Teri Losonci (07.09. 19:30 Szent István square)
Narcissus and Psyche
Psyché I-III. Hungarian drama, colour, 1980, by Gábor Bódy, Language: Hungarian, Subtitles: English, 261' Gala screening; Guest: Udo Kier (08.09. 18:00 Uránia National Film Theatre)
