At a dusty crossroads in the Soviet Union villagers surrender their possessions - a horse, a samovar, a goat - to the state. The train which takes them away brings to the village a physically and mentally handicapped woman, barely able to speak. She makes herself bracelets of burrs and studies herself in a cracked and cloudy mirror. Befriended by very few, teased and tormented by many she seeks protection at a huge portrait of Stalin. The children taunt her as Stalin's girlfriend. Far from Moscow, minor state functionaries fear scandal from poor Paranya who crosses herself in front of the portrait. The all powerful state which provides every family a cabbage one day, a melon the next, which gives a citizen the job of guarding waste is threatened by a flaxen-haired, childlike woman whose only clothing is a burlap sack. The English subtitles are sparse and rudimentary with some errors.
3 Reviews
A Thought Provoking Tale
abunyik20 July 2006
I've been on a Hungarian cinema kick this month for sure, and boy have I found some winners. This movie takes a hard look at life in the Soviet Union. Imagine living in a time or place where freedom was not an accepted concept. Where keeping your family fed and happy was out of your hands.
I love movies that force the viewer and the characters in the film to re-evaluate their outlook on life and their own capacity for sympathy and understanding. This film does just that.
You will have a new and deeper understanding of these times for having watched this film. It really did prove to me that Hungarian cinema is alive and well.
I love movies that force the viewer and the characters in the film to re-evaluate their outlook on life and their own capacity for sympathy and understanding. This film does just that.
You will have a new and deeper understanding of these times for having watched this film. It really did prove to me that Hungarian cinema is alive and well.
She draws a crowd in the square. Without a permit.
vishal_wall28 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
A half wit woman draws public attention is a Hungarian village during Stalin's rule.
Excellent farce. You have to watch this film to believe it. Its a perfect film. Its damn funny too. Bacso confuses audiences with the dialogs and makes us realize that its us who are actually half wit. Its just brilliant. I laughed on so many scenes like mad. The length of the film is perfect. 89 minutes. Bacso just makes his point and its over. All the jokes are political in nature. My favorite scene is when the painting of Stalin is put up for display and the conversation of the local authority with the his boss on the phone. It's just too much. Its done in a very unique taste. A character is defined only to show how superstitions travel in a closed society.
Almost every actor is good. Camera work and scene composition are fantastic. Screenplay is unbelievably original. How a scene starts and where it ends is just a treat to watch. This was my first Hungarian film. Will watch more. 10/10
Excellent farce. You have to watch this film to believe it. Its a perfect film. Its damn funny too. Bacso confuses audiences with the dialogs and makes us realize that its us who are actually half wit. Its just brilliant. I laughed on so many scenes like mad. The length of the film is perfect. 89 minutes. Bacso just makes his point and its over. All the jokes are political in nature. My favorite scene is when the painting of Stalin is put up for display and the conversation of the local authority with the his boss on the phone. It's just too much. Its done in a very unique taste. A character is defined only to show how superstitions travel in a closed society.
Almost every actor is good. Camera work and scene composition are fantastic. Screenplay is unbelievably original. How a scene starts and where it ends is just a treat to watch. This was my first Hungarian film. Will watch more. 10/10
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