This four-disc Blu-Ray set contains six iconic films from internationally renowned Hungarian filmmaker Miklós Jancsó. On display through all six films and additional short films are Jancsó’s eye for natural and organic beauty. Tracking shots, shots from horseback, and fly-by shots were all performed with massive group choreography decades before the invention of the steady cam: These films are truly a sight to behold. Anyone seeking technical perfection in cinema or studying world film will find interest in each and every one of the titles in this collection.
The Round-Up (1966)
Shot in surprisingly stunning black and white, The Round-Up chronicles the aftermath of the 1848 Hungarian revolution through the eyes of prisoners of war. The Hungarian military conducts a convoluted manhunt for those who participated on the losing side of the revolution. Jancsó shows not only his skill with camera work but weaving a compelling tale and his distaste for tyrants of all stripes. By its own merits, The Round-Up is an outstanding film and highly recommended.
The Red and the White (1967)
The Red and the White is also shot in black and white and warns of the cruel, surreal nature of war. International Communists from Hungary and other countries rush to Russia to aid in their 1918 revolution and are hunted down by the Russian military, first by the conscripted Hussars who kill without mercy and pillage the countryside they claim to save. Russian soldiers put an end to this threat by execution but continue the pogrom against communist sympathizers at a local hospital, denying the wounded soldiers their basic human rights in their hunt for the Reds. This film includes many brilliant shots including pan shots from horseback and airplane. The Red and the White is an outstanding film and highly recommended.
The Confrontation (1968)
The first film Jancsó shot in color, The Confrontation is a much more philosophical film that dramatizes a confrontation between Communist College Youth and a prominent Catholic college in 1947. The Communist youth demand an open debate with the Catholic priests and students who refuse. The confrontation begins with singing and dancing, cultural displays of Hungarian peasants, and communist internationalism, but soon turns to violence and repression. The student’s mentors crack down on this behavior but cannot quench the revolutionary passion of their students. Jancsó really shows off in this film with beautiful mass choreography, long shots, and outstanding shots of historic buildings and the countryside. The Confrontation is an excellent film and is highly recommended.
Winter Wind (1969)
Following a group of 1930s Croatian ultra-nationalists, Winter Wind is the weakest film in this collection. While the introduction to the film claims that it is a cautionary tale, the main character is upheld as a hero at several points in the film though he is a violent nationalist who murders for money. He is also paranoid to a fault, holding a gun on his closest allies and unarmed women for a large portion of the movie. The cinematography suffers as well: This was the first of several films Jancsó purposely shot as twelve distinct long shots. Because of that, some of the choreography, acting, and camerawork suffers from unnatural movement and awkward camera shifts. Despite these issues, Winter Wind is still a beautiful film and worth watching. This excellent drama is highly recommended.
Red Psalm (1971)
Often hailed as Jancsó’s greatest work, Red Psalm is a surreal history of striking farm workers which begins in the late 1800s and moves into the 1920s. There is little to denote the passage of time beyond the changing of military uniforms and fashion by newly introduced characters. Jancsó learns from the mistakes made in Winter Wind and does not repeat them. The focus on peasant culture and surreal, Goya-esque portrayals of the military are the greatest strengths of this film. This is a superior film which is recommended for all film collections.
Electra, My Love (1974)
A ‘Hungarianized’ telling of Greek myth, the Daughter of Agamemnon struggles under the boot of her tyrant uncle and prays for the return of her youngest brother to save her and their people from brutal injustice and cruel lies. The ending is especially surprising and bizarre, ending not with the tyrant’s death as the original story does, but with a poem about humanity’s natural right to the land. This outstanding 12 long-shot set piece is a must-see and highly recommended.
While not going into detail about each one, I can say that the selected short films are worthwhile additions to any classic or foreign film collection. Film educators should look to put the Miklós Jancsó Collection on their library shelves as soon as possible. This excellent selection of works by the renowned Hungarian director is highly recommended.
Read a full review of Electra, My Love
What type of professors would find this film valuable?
Professors of Early Modern European History, Political Philosophy, and Film would be most interested in the Miklós Jancsó Collection.
What kind of film series would these films fit in?
Any European film festival would benefit greatly from the titles in this collection.