Classics Film Marathon / Closing Ceremony: Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe

Director: István Szabó

Screenplay by Szabó István
Director of photography: Koltai Lajos
Music by Móricz Mihály, Bornai Tibor, Nagy Feró, Robert Schumann
Cast: Johanna Ter Steege (Bánsági Ildikó), Börcsök Enikő, Andorai Péter, Kerekes Éva, Mucsi Zoltán, Temessy Hédi, Pásztor Erzsi, Patkós Irma, Jordán Tamás, Máté Gábor

Special guests: Johanna Ter Steege, Enikő Börcsök and István Szabó

This film that won a Silver Bear at the 1992 Berlinale depicts a sombre snapshot sketching out, for the first time, change-of-regime Hungary as characterized by the fate of teachers of Russian coming up from the countryside. The year is 1989. Emma and Böbe are living in a workers’ hostel in Budapest, attending a crash course in English that they then have immediately to teach. Russian school books are burnt, teachers are mocked. The two girlfriends fall on hard times; Emma starts cleaning while Böbe ends up in prison for illegal money changing and prostitution. Only one could endure.

More programmes of the Budapest Classics Film Marathon in Urania National Filmtheatre.