Zoltán Fábri Movies

Rather than build suspense in this drama about a murder and its subsequent cover-up, director Zoltan Fabri has curiously chosen to focus on the story of the actual crime as it occurred and then to show how an investigative reporter starts to discover the truth about what really happened. So the first segment of the film focuses on a corrupt government official who invites several guests over for dinner one night. In the midst of the festivities (much wine and meat are consumed), the daughter of one of the guests barges in with a boyfriend and declares that she is eloping with him. In response, her drunken father shoots the boyfriend in the head, though miraculously, he is not killed. In order to bury the incident far from the prying eyes of the masses, the host assumes responsibility for the shooting, explaining to the police that it was a mistake. When the female companion of the doctor who handled the wounded man hears about the case, she is suspicious and begins checking into it. As a consequence, she faces all sorts of harassment -- but is determined to follow through to the end. Since viewers already know what happened, the longer, second segment of the movie is partially redundant, drawing out or stretching the story past its inherent limits. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

The Hungarian The Fifth Seal is a study in depersonalization. The story takes place in the twilight of World War II: the five protagonists are buddies who try to have as much fun as possible without treading on anyone's toes. One of the five, however, makes an offhand remark which proves insulting to a military functionary. The boys are arrested, and forced to perform a series of tasks to test their loyalty. In the process, the friends struggle to stay in touch with their own inbred ideals and sense of individualism, with varying degrees of success. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This Hungarian film follows an affectless old ex-convict around as he smokes endless cigarettes and reminisces with various people about his crimes during the second World War. In a concluding scene, no more dramatic than those which precede it, he kills a tavern-keeper he has been visiting, a man who had been on the opposite side during the war. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In this stark political satire, a poor Hungarian dike worker is utterly bewildered by the unfathomable red tape of Stalin's bureaucracy. Though the film was made in 1969, it wasn't released in Hungary until 1978. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The Toth family resides in Northern Hungary. The couple has a daughter and a son, the latter a member of the armed forces. When his weary major is ordered to take a vacation, the son talks him into a visit to his family home. Comedy endues when the Toth's go overboard trying to make things pleasant for the visiting major in hopes of an easier life for their son the soldier. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

This confusing political drama from director Zoltan Fabri stars Antal Pager, Emil Keresh, and Yanov Gvorbe. A crusading newspaper reporter covers the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956. Initially critical of the communists, the feature later espouses the virtues of the social changes implemented since the invasion. The title refers to the period of time the reporter spent interviewing witnesses to the invasion. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Director and co-scripter Zoltan Fabri, an important figure in Hungarian cinema, offers a new twist on an old story in this effective tale of a POW camp run by Germans and a game of soccer. Rather than soldiers, this camp which is located in Hungary has political prisoners and Jews. One day the Germans are looking for entertainment and after discovering that a soccer ace is among their POWs, they decide to challenge the prisoners to a match. As the star player gets together a team and preparations begin for the game, the team also attempts an aborted escape. They are caught, but in spite of everything the game will go on -- to unexpected and tragic results. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

This drama by Hungarian New Cinema director Zoltan Fabri is about class exploitation and murder, and is set in 1919. Anna (Mari Torocsik) is a shy and plain young woman who works as a maid in a privileged household. She is essentially a slave without any rights to speak of, and while she is being driven to the extremity of murder because of her brutal and uncaring treatment, the Hungarian communist revolution is building up steam in the background. The microcosm, in this case, is clearly meant to illustrate the impersonal and much larger picture. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

The "Hannibal" mention in the title of this Hungarian film is not the infamous barbarian general. Instead, it is Professor Hannibal (Erno Szabo) as meek and mild as his namesake was ruthless and savage. The story takes place in the 1930s, during the fascistic regime of Hungary's Admiral Horthy. Prof. Hannibal does his best to cope with an untenable situation, but is swept up (and swept over) by events. The film is at once an advocation and a condemnation of populist rule, demonstrating the dangers of the mob mentality when the purpose of the mob is forgotten. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi