Water engineer László Bene travels from the capital to the Great Plain to have wells drilled, contrary to the expensive canal construction project approved by the party. He forms a deep friendship with the agile director of the local cooperative, and together they fight for water, bypassing bureaucracy. The Fanatics is the first Hungarian film to depict an intellectual hero becoming troubled in a socialist environment – his conflicts, relationships and mood are portrayed with an innovative visuality. This taboo-smashing picture is frequently cited as a forerunner of Hungarian new wave.
Supporting film:
Allegro vivace
Allegro vivace, Hungarian animation, colour, 1990, dir: Sándor Reisenbüchler, No Dialogue, 6’
‘Allegro vivace’ in music is an instruction to play the piece at a lively tempo. The camera pans over lush nature from on high before a bare, dried-up, empty human skull comes into view. Winged creatures then bring it to life. Sándor Reisenbüchler’s film reflecting a pantheistic vision holds out the possibility of regeneration and rebirth.
More information on the Budapest Classic Film Marathon's program at Uránia >>
