date watched: May 6, 2009
location: Film Society of Lincoln Center, NYC
Shown as part of the "Jancsó Classics" series at the Walter Reade Theater.
Miklós Jancsó is often referred to as a master choreographer, and it really takes flight in this film. I can't imagine how much planning and attention must have gone into all the details to get the marches and battle scenes the way Jancsó wanted them.
As much as I wanted to sympathize with the Hungarians and censure the Red Russians, and play the good guy/bad guy game, it was difficult when the so-called Hungarian heroes were courageous, but had horrible timing. In one scene, when a surprise attack on the Reds is carried out successfully, an old man in the audience started clapping enthusiastically, as though he were paid to do it. But I partially understood his fervor, because by that point, it had become frustrating how unlucky the Hungarians were.
Intended by Jancsó or not, the film pays tribute to the beauty of the male body, also. When the Hungarians are captured, they are forced to take their shirts off, to further magnify their collective shame. When the Hungarians are on their own, they are sometimes shirtless, and in this case, it represents their honest yet vulnerable passion for their country. On the other hand, women's bodies become a target for objectification, whether you're on the "right" side or not.
I think I'll check out another Miklós Jancsó film tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment