Imre Sinkovits Movies

This 1956 film was banned in Hungary shortly after it was completed and just before the Soviet tanks rolled in to quell the Hungarian uprising. And small wonder -- its "hero" is a Party faithful whose corruption and lack of morality is disgusting, and its "antihero" is someone honest and good, imprisoned for his anti-Party stance. Sztanko (Ferenc Bessenyej) is in charge of a housing project that is due to bring him a huge promotion if it is completed on budget and brought in on schedule. Sztanko hears that his old friend Palocz (Miklos Gabor) has been released from prison and needs some financial help. So he looks Palocz up and asks him to give some of his expert advice on the building project. Their friendship blossoms again until Palocz tells Sztanko that due to his cutting corners in the budget, the building is not safe for habitation. Irate at this input, Sztanko chooses to ignore this admonition. And sure enough, disaster happens, but the crafty and unscrupulous Sztanko has a way of exonerating himself and getting back at Palocz at the same time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Hungary deals with the invasion of the bellicose Turks who threatened the nation in the 16th century. A young man and woman fall in love but must separate when the battles begin. The enemy tries to scale the walls of a fortress as the defenders pour molten lead on them, and all are engulfed in a hail of fiery arrows as the fierce battle ensues. Appeals to the Pope in Rome fail to bring about peace. When the Turks are defeated, the young couple reunites only to be tracked by a one-eyed warrior seeking revenge for theft of his coveted talisman during the melee. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Márton Keleti's acclaimed (but now sadly forgotten) Hungarian period satire The Corporal and Others (AKA A Tizedes Meg a Toebbiek, 1966) spins a comic situation from a tragic circumstance: that of Hungary's collaboration with the Nazis in the last waning years of World War II. Against this backdrop, the Hungarian Corporal (Imre Sinkovits) grows tired of the bellicosity and bloodshed, and opts to desert. He makes a mad dash for an old, deserted castle, where he joins a group of AWOL soldiers cowering there; over time, a series of politically opposed factions confront the men, who dodge conflict by simply changing their uniforms and philosophies to side with the enemy at hand - be they Communists, Hungarian fascists or German Nazis. Keleti uses much screen time to send up Hungarian customs, traditions and behavioral modes, rendering this a film that was far more appreciated in its native country than abroad. Tamas Major and Ivan Darvas co-star. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Laszlo is a militant Communist who marries Judit, a woman freed from a concentration camp. All is well for the couple until Laszlo is arrested by Stalinists who wish to rid the country of supporters of the old party. He is gone for four years before he can return to Judit, but he finds that much has changed. Judit has been having an affair with a young and progressive writer and they find their marriage too strained. When the 1956 uprising occurs, the two find themselves to be on opposite sides of the struggle. This Hungarian drama was written and directed by Janos Hersko). ~ Kristie Hassen, 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