#istvan szabo

[mattydemise]

Sunshine, 1999.

[davidhudson]

Happy 86th, István Szabó.

[kubelicatthemovies]

Mephisto (István Szabó. 1981)

[anamon-book]

ハヌッセン 大映株式会社・事業開発部 監督：イシュトバン・サボー／出演：クラウス・マリア・ブランダウアー、エルランド・ヨセフソン ほか

[whoever-the-heck]

Wonderful film with wonderful performances from Hungarian actors Ildikó Bánsági and Péter Andorai

Bizalom (Confidence)

Dir. István Szabó, 1980

[theoscarsproject]

Hanussen (1988). A man's story parallels Hitler's rise. Austrian Klaus Schneider, wounded in World War I, recovers in the care of Dr. Emil Bettleheim. Bettleheim discovers that Schneider possesses powers of empathy and of clairvoyance, such that could aid suicidal patients. After the war, with one friend as his manager and another as his lover, Schneider changes his name to Eric Jan Hanussen and goes to Berlin, as a hypnotist and clairvoyant performing in halls and theaters. He always speaks the truth, which brings him to the attention of powerful Nazis. He predicts their rise (good propaganda for them) and their violence (not so good). He's in pain and at risk. What is Hanussen's future?

It's been a week since I watched this movie and I'm still having troubles collecting my thoughts on it. The premise of a clairvoyant who predicts Hitler's rise to power is pretty interesting, but Hanussen as a character never entirely is. It means there feels like there's a real disconnect between otherwise strong scenes and visual style, and a sort of lack of anchoring or mooring. I don't know. There was enough in it that I thought was well done that I kind of want to rewatch it to really make up my mind, but I'm not sure I have the patience. Interesting though, overall. 6/10.

[letterboxd-loggd]

Adoption (Örökbefogadás) (1975) Márta Mészáros

May 31st 2023

[canary0]

May 3, Bistrita - Dracula 2023

The train left Munich at 8:35 pm on May 1st, arriving in Vienna early the next morning.

We would have been there sooner, but the train was an hour late. Really unfortunate, because once I arrived from Vienna to Budapest, the place is beautiful. The fact that the railways wanted to get back on schedule meant that didn’t get much of a chance to explore, but I managed to get a few pictures.

Train station interior: Photo by Thomas Choi on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/DdBEYd4hZ5k)

Train station exterior: Photo by Gabriel Miklós on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/asIEq0NrNNE)

Budapest: Photo by Klaudia Olejnik from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/budapest-hungary-river-city-bridge-7810815/)

You can feel the history, moving into the area that the Ottoman Empire once ruled. The influences are so different, between the oldest architecture in England and here. Like a gateway into Eastern Europe, something like that. I would love too travel here some time when I’m not on business with Mina. She could probably tell me the history of half the buildings here.

Sadly, I left shortly after I took the picture of the bridge. I almost ran late for the train taking off again! I can’t complain, though, as we left in good time and weren’t too late getting into Cluj-Napoca. Even the rail station was lovely.

Train station: Public Domain image at Wikipedia.com (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluj-Napoca_railway_station)

I stayed for the night at a small hotel about ten minutes walk from the station, Villa Escala. I always thought that if you’re going to travel, you should go places where you can absorb the atmosphere more, and this place was lovely in that regard. The atmosphere warmed the soul, and the furniture wore its history on its sleeve without looking worn out.

Hotel (Villa Escala): Photo at Booking.com (https://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/villa-escala.html)

Once I checked in, I inquired after the staff where I might find some local fare, and they directed me to a nearby restaurant where I had a lovely dish they called “ paprikás csirke”, chicken paprikash. While apparently not commonly made this way these days, this particular place used an old recipe that included hot paprika, and it was quite a thirsty dish. I finished my carafe and water and needed more. It was interesting in how the burn was more at the back of the mouth and going down than at the front.

Mina: I think you would love this dish. Creamy, spicy, a little tart from the sour cream, and a subtle sweetness. I found a recipe for it you might want to try. (link)

Chicken Paprikash (paprikás csirke): Photo by Istvan Szabo at Pexels (https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-close-up-shot-of-a-chicken-paprikash-dish-10338434/)

While the cell reception has grown increasingly spotty during my trip, I’ve done some research on the area as I went. The place I’m going is right on the border of Transilvania, Bucovina, and Moldova (that’s the Romanian state, not the country – that’s farther east yet), in the eastern half of the country, tucked up in the Carpathian Mountains. I won’t be quite heading into the latter two states, I gather. I think the castle must not be on any official roads, because I couldn’t find where it’s supposed to be on any roads. I think I can see an impression on Google Earth, but it’s surprisingly blurry. I can’t tell if what I’m seeing is a castle or a strange craggy outcropping. I suppose I’ll see.

Anyway, there are a few different ethnic groups in the area: Saxons (yes, the same ones King Arthur was supposed to have fought – they occupied a really wide swath of Europe), Vlachs (speakers of Eastern Romance languages, possibly descended from the Romans who once occupied the region; indeed, they simply called themselves Romans), Magyars (Hungarians), and Szekelys (who regard themselves as descendants of Huns, and served as the vanguard of Romanian armies in the past). Supposedly, when the Magyas conquered the Carpathian Basin, they found the Huns already there, so it’s possible.

Supposedly the Carpathian Mountains are rich in folklore and stories of all sorts of strange beings out there in the night. I think I must have been thinking about it that night, because my sleep was interrupted by odd dreams. It likely wasn’t helped by a dog howling beneath my window, the paprika, or the picturesque, if rather spooky, graveyard I had to pass between the hotel, train station, and restaurant. Despite that, I must have been sleeping very deeply by morning – it took a couple of wake up calls for me to actually get up.

I had a breakfast of more paprika, a polenta-ish cornmeal porridge called “mămăligă”, and a stuffed eggplant dish they called “impletata”… but since that word just means “stuffed” according the the online translator that has been a lifeline this leg of the trip, I think they might have been having me on a little. Very tasty, though, so I can’t complain too much.

I hurried through the food to get to the train on time, since it was supposed to leave before late, but… Well, the phrase “hurry up and wait” comes to mind. We didn’t get started until at least 8:30. Such is life.

The train took a moderate pace through the countryside, which suited me just fine. I mentioned that Budapest was beautiful, but the countryside of Transilvania has a completely different sort of beauty. Little picturesque towns in the midst of rolling fields and little rivers in the distance, castles settled atop steep hills, watching over the surrounding area like lone sentinels. The streams and rivers had wide, stony margins that made me wonder if they were prone to sudden floods. Every once in a while, we would pass a small village and town close and see people going about their daily lives that made me think of some of those cottage/back to nature sort of aesthetics you see online. It reminds me of a cottagecore mood board Lucy once showed me when we visited, and traveling through this region, I can feel the appeal.

Romanian Countryside: Photo by Fotografu on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/8h-yUi_l2Jw)

I arrived in Bistrita iwhile it was still somewhat bright, sadly too late to do much in the way of sightseeing, though a little bit of hurry let me take a photo of the church that dominates the central square of the town.

Bistrița Evangelical Church: Photo by Mian Bulacu (https://backpackglobetrotter.com/2018/09/17/postcards-romania/)

The Count directly me to The Coronana de Aur hotel. It’s a modern business hotel like many others, but it’s hard to find a hotel that’s historic these days. While it’s a little disappointing, as I was hoping to take in a little more of the local feel, it was nice to have a comfortable place to stay before I head off to the Tihuta Pass tomorrow. Having good reception to call Mina before I go is a comfort, too.

When I arrived, the front desk staff passed me a letter from the Count: “My Friend.--Welcome to the Carpathians. I am anxiously expecting you. Sleep well to-night. At three tomorrow a bus will start for Bucovina; a place on it is kept for you. At the Tihuta Pass my carriage will await you and will bring you to me. I trust that your journey from London has been a happy one, and that you will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land.

Your friend,

DRACULA.”

(A/N: Hopefully you enjoyed the first foray into this silly endeavor to rewrite the book as if it was happening as of May 3, 2023. This is absolutely not meant to be serious.

I am trying to make it a little more accurate to real world Romania as much as I can (and as much as can be reasonable from an Englishman's perspective). We're part of a connected, small world these days. I think that's going to make the horror of the isolation even stronger.

Anyway. Have fun with the dumb, silly thing I'm making at DD goes. If it's not your cup of tea, you are welcome to move on.

Obviously, this is not mine, Dracula being public domain in the US aside. It's basically fanfic. Some of it will be direct quotes. Probably not much, as having characters in a modern context will change them, and that'll be filtered through my own lens of how I perceive them as well.

Enough excuses, I suppose. It'll be what it'll be.)

[marwahstudios]

Celebrating 100 Years of Filmmaker Sergei Parajanov: A Cinematic Tribute by Indo Armenia Film and Cultural Forum

Noida, 21st April: The Indo Armenia Film and Cultural Forum, in collaboration with the Embassy of Armenia and ICMEI, commemorated the illustrious legacy of filmmaker Sergei Parajanov on the occasion of his centenary celebration. The event, held at Marwah Studios, marked a poignant tribute to the visionary artist whose contributions continue to resonate within the realms of cinema and culture.

The highlight of the evening was the screening of Sergei Parajanov’s debut masterpiece, “The Color of Pomegranates,” a film revered for its poetic storytelling and visual splendor. As the audience immersed themselves in Parajanov’s cinematic universe, they were transported through a kaleidoscope of imagery and emotions, reflecting the rich tapestry of Armenian culture.

Speaking at the event, Ashok Dhingra, a distinguished filmmaker and associate dean of AAFT, shed light on Sergei Parajanov’s unparalleled creativity and his significant impact on the cinematic landscape. His remarks underscored the enduring relevance of Parajanov’s oeuvre in inspiring future generations of filmmakers.

Sandeep Marwah, President of Marwah Studios, extended a warm welcome to the attendees, emphasizing the pivotal role of cinema as a cultural ambassador. He reiterated the power of films in fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, echoing the sentiment shared by H.E. Vahaagn Afyan, Ambassador of Armenia to India.

H.E. Vahaagn Afyan expressed gratitude towards ICMEi for orchestrating such a profound tribute to Sergei Parajanov, emphasizing the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between India and Armenia through cultural exchange initiatives.

In addition to the film screening, an exhibition of paintings from Armenia captivated the audience, offering a visual feast of Armenian artistry and heritage. The inauguration of this exhibition by H.E. Vahagn Afyan added an extra layer of cultural richness to the evening.

The event witnessed a distinguished gathering of ambassadors, diplomats, members of the art and culture fraternity, and aspiring filmmakers, underscoring the universal appeal of Sergei Parajanov’s cinematic legacy.

As a gesture of appreciation, Sandeep Marwah presented mementos to H.E. Vahagn Afyan, as well as to H.E. Istvan Szabo the Ambassador of Hungary to India and diplomats from Belarus, acknowledging their support and participation in the celebration.

Ashok Tyagi, Secretary-General of ICMEI, extended a heartfelt vote of thanks, acknowledging the collaborative efforts that made the event a resounding success.

The celebration of Sergei Parajanov’s centenary served as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of cinema to transcend boundaries and unite cultures in a shared celebration of creativity and human expression.

[sharkchunks]

Sunshine (1999, István Szabó)

[filmografie]

Favorite films watched in April 2021:

Fists in the Pocket (1965), dir. Marco Bellocchio

Daddy Nostalgia (1990), dir. Bertrand Tavernier

Mephisto (1981), dir István Szabó

Une semaine de vacances (1980), dir. Bertrand Tavernier

Man of Marble (1977), dir. Andrzej Wajda

Man of Iron (1981), dir. Andrzej Wajda

A Girl Missing (2019), dir. Koji Fukada

Colonel Redl (1985), dir. István Szabó

Chop Shop (2007), dir. Ramin Bahrani

Madadayo (1993), dir. Akira Kurosawa

The Father (2020), dir. Florian Zeller

Winter Sleep (2014), dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan

[liinza]

Confidence, István Szabó, 1980

[davidhudson]

Happy 85th, István Szabó.

[annoyingthemesong]

SUBLIME CINEMA #356 - MEPHISTO

The old guard of Hungarian cinema at its best. Istvan Szabo is without parallel in the country’s cinematic output since at least the early 70′s, and the film was shot meticulously by pioneering cinematographer Lajos Koltai, and written by Peter Dobai, the scribe behind Bela Tarr’s Satantango and several other Szabo films from this era. Klaus Maria Brandauer, the chameleon-like Austrian actor in a defining role, of a power and fame hungry stage actor, who exploits his relationships with high ranking Nazis to achieve his goals- at the price of his soul. 

[dare-g]

Free online screening of István Szabó's Age of Illusions is happing on March 30th thanks to Liszt Institute New York you can get a ticket here

[loyal-to-cinema]

“Confidence”(1980) István Szabó