Organised in collaboration with Hungarian Information & Cultural Centre, New Delhi
Screening of eight feature films to celebrate the Day of Hungarian Film. Presented by the Hungarian National Film Institute, a selection of some of the best, unforgettable Hungarian comedies from the past 80 years have been made available online for free, with English subtitles. These include masterpieces such as Hyppolit, the Butler, The Witness, Dollybirds, and Moszkva Square, plus many others
The classic Hungarian comedies listed below are available from 4th to 10th May 2020 on the following links with English subtitles:
Hyppolit, the Butler / Hyppolit, a lakáj (1931/77 min)
Directed by István Székely
Evergreen comedy about a typical parvenu, an ignorant transportation entrepreneur who has suddenly found himself very rich. Despite their humble origins, his wife strives to live a sophisticated lifestyle. When she engages a butler, Hyppolit, their whole life is turned upside down. It has remained one of the most viewed Hungarian comedies of all time: it is shown regularly and is still extremely popular
https://vimeo.com/242887610
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Mickey Magnate / Mágnás Miska (1948/95 min)
Directed by Márton Keleti
Baracs Pista, engineer at the construction site of a railway line near the Korláthy estate, falls in love with Rolla, a countess disguised as a peasant girl. The count is giving a party as he wants the railway line to go across his lands
https://vimeo.com/336088339
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Liliomfi (1954/109 min)
Directed by Károly Makk
Set in the "Golden Era" of the wandering Hungarian theatre troupes. Mariska and Liliomfi fall in love without suspecting that Mariska's foster father, Professor Szilvay, is also Liliomfi's uncle. Soon the couple must contend with the professor's plan to make Liliomfi give up his "unrespectable" profession of acting by exposing the professor's hypocrisy, greed, and tyrannical selfishness
https://vimeo.com/325212396
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Sparrows Are Birds Too / A veréb is madár (1968/80 min)
Directed by György Hintsch
A comedy about two twin brothers - Sándor, who emigrated and became a rich man, and Zoltán, who stayed in Hungary and lives the life of an average working-class man. When Sándor visits his twin brother, they are constantly mistaken for each other, and when Zoltán sees how differently people treat Sándor because of his money and his foreign citizenship, he begins to like being mistaken for him - until he realizes that this means he will lose his girlfriend Szöszi...
https://vimeo.com/408971982
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The Witness / A tanú (1969/103 min)
Directed by Péter Bacsó
There is no mythology in Hungarian film history comparable with that of The Witness. Quotes from Péter Bacsó’s hilarious satire have become proverbial. The great triad of dam-keeper Joseph Pelican, comrade Blossom and comrade Bastion remains a bunch of vivid caricatures forever. Due to its genius, penetrating both script and acting, the film go‑ers an immediate experience of the outrageous absurdity of dictatorship
https://vimeo.com/337248045
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Don’t Panic, Please! / Csak semmi pánik (1982/87 min)
Directed by István Bujtor, Sándor Szőnyi G.
There are mysterious murders in the area of Lake Balaton. These places are shrouded in secrecy and constantly attract hunters: during the Second World War, the Germans had hidden a huge treasure here. Investigation of the murders entrusted to Major Kardos. He takes up the case, but in search of treasure he had many competitors. Kardos uses help from his loyal friend - a policeman-superman Etvash aka "Droplet".
https://vimeo.com/329103545
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Dollybirds / Csinibaba (1997/100 min)
Directed by Péter Tímár
The movie is set in the actual "Ki Mit Tud?" talent contest in 1962. In reality the contest in dance music category was won by an army brass band. "Omega" which later became one of the most successful Hungarian rock bands came out in the second place
https://vimeo.com/310791992
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Moscow Square / Moszkva tér (2001/88 min)
Directed by Ferenc Török
Recipient of the awards for Best Debut Film, Best Supporting Actress & Internet Audience, Hungarian Film Week 2001
1989 is an important year in the political history of Hungary. However, Petya and his friends couldn't care less. They are about to graduate high school. The only important things to them are the parties, girls, making some easy cash. And of course, passing the upcoming exam with the leaked questions
https://vimeo.com/266701265
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