Iren Psota Movies

In this comedy, the devil is really down on his luck, and his powers have nearly vanished. In fact, about the only thing he can still do is assume any appearance he wants. For the film, he takes the form of a lovely woman called Micci (Irén Psota). For some reason, he needs to track down the discovery of a lonely modern alchemist; he has found an elixer of life. Micci can't seem to find this stuff on her own, and her efforts to use three bumblers to help her find it fare no better. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This sarcastic drama is taken from the popular Hungarian novel by Tibor Dery. A terminally ill writer (Jozef Kroner) of national prominence watches as family and friends gather like vultures for his imminent demise. Relli (Alexander Bardini) smiles and pretends to be the writer's friend as he tries to get his hands on an unpublished manuscript. The opening scene is the highlight of the film. While the dead writer is being laid to rest in a national funeral, he emerges from the coffin and walks into his own grave while the mourners flee in terror. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

In a little Hungarian university town, at the turn of the century, there exists a small whorehouse. On an ordinary evening, the typical activities of the house include the girls and their madame taking a trip to the legitimate theater to see a play. Their dress and comportment outside the house are exemplary. Then they return and open for business, turning on the obligatory red light. A poor medical student is one of the house's beloved customers whose lack of cash is not an obstacle. One night during a rainstorm, he is encouraged to stay in the house's spare room. In fact, in order to save money from the allowance his mother spares him, they offer him the room as his residence while he continues his studies. When word comes that his mother is visiting, the women decree that she must suspect that nothing is amiss: the house is miraculously transformed into a respectable boarding house. However, it would be best for everyone if the boy's mother could be back on the train and out of town before their regular working hours begin. The student is off for a night on the town, and is unaware of all this. Troubles are compounded when he returns with a drunken crew of town officials looking for their usual entertainment. With the "cat" out of the bag, everyone looks to the mother to see her reaction. Fortunately, she proves not only imperturbable, but warm-hearted. This gentle comedy is based on the short story by Sandor Huyady, "The House With The Red Light." ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Andras Kovacs, a leading light of the new Hungarian cinema, brought his "docudrama" technique to his 1966 film Cold Days. The story deals with the systematic slaughter of Jews and Serbians by Hungarian fascists during World War II. Kovacs is not quite a revisionist historian, but he does cast doubt on the "official" interpretations of this horrible human-rights violation. Nor is the audience allowed to slip into complacency: it comes as a shock to discover that many of the characters whom we're rooting for turn out to be the villains! Both written and directed by Kovacs, Cold Days was originally released as Hideg Napok. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Haz a Szikiak Alatt (The House Under the Rocks) is considered by many to be Hungarian director Karoly Makk's masterpiece. Janos Gorbe plays a soldier, sick of heart and mind, who returns to his home after a long and debilitating war. He finds that his wife is dead, and his son is now under the care of his sister-in-law, played by Irene Psota. An embittered hunchback, Psota tends to Gorbe's wounds and keeps him isolated from the rest of the village, hoping in this way that he will eventually fall in love with her. He doesn't, and tragedy is the result. One of the hits of the 1958 Venice Film Festival, Haz a Skikiak Alatt was equally well received at the San Francisco Film Festival (between its European and American showings, the film's running time had been judiciously trimmed by several minutes). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi