Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by mishmashmusic (A) on February 12, 2006 at 14:22:55

Hungarian film which takes place during the Russian Revolution, with Hungarian soldiers caught up in the struggle. Basically a film about the absurdity and abuses of war.

I am mixed about this one, feeling like it was well done, but missing something. It probably doesn't help that I recently viewd "Come And See", as that film took the horrors of war to another level, which Jancso's film only hints at.

The production was flawless, but the storyline was understandibly confusing---especially to an English-speaking viewer with a fairly limited knowledge of the history of Russian/Hungarian relations. Apparently the film was banned by the Soviets, but it obviously doesn't favor the "Red" or the "White" side---showing abuses by both. For most of the film, the violence centers on the execution of prisoners, with only a few scenes dedicated to actual combat---the climax being a Red unit marching into certain death on a hillside.

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