Director
Judit Elek
Hungary / 1969
76 min.
/ DCP
/ Original version with English subtitles
Original language
Hungarian
The protagonist of Judit Elek’s first feature-length fiction film shows the daily routine of an elderly woman played by famous actress Manyi Kiss. She lives entirely in her memories, which is reflected both by the old furniture and knickknacks which fill her spacious apartment as well as the records that she likes to put on. Life in the neighborhood is marked by close ties and occasional help, but also gossip and resentment. When she decides to do an apartment swap, she gets to know a wide range of different people. A group viewing soon turns into an exuberant party in much the same way as the depiction of normal events repeatedly tips over into the surreal. Elek’s look at the “Lady from Constantinople” is full of tenderness and melancholy. She registers the diversity of different approaches to life in Budapest with a fine sense of irony.
Director
Judit Elek
Hungary / 1963
22 min.
/ Digital file
/ Original version with English subtitles
Original language
Hungarian
A woman and a man meet on an afternoon in Budapest, stroll through the city and gradually become closer. Both are full of expectations and hopes, which makes getting to know each other and the desire for connection more complicated than straightforward. Shot in the direct cinema style with non-professional actors and improvised dialogues, the film crafts the touching portrait of an encounter, full of immediacy.