DOLCE EMMA, CARA BOBE Édes Emma, drága Böbe

12 novembre > SALA 5 ore 19.15

Hungary, Germany – 1991 – DCP – colore – 78’

CREDITS

Direction: István Szabó

Screenplay: István Szabó, Andrea Vészits

Cinematography: Lajos Koltai

Editing: Eszter Kovács

Set design: Attila Kovács

Music: Tibor Bornai, Mihály Móricz, Feró Nagy

Costumes: Zsuzsa Stenger

Cast: Johanna Ter Steege, Enik Börcsök, Péter Andorai, Éva Kerekes, Hédi Temessy, Erzsi Pásztor, Irma, Tamás Jordán, Zoltán Mucsi, Gábor Máté

Producers: Gabriella Grósz, Lajos Óvári

Production: Mafilm, Studio Objektiv, Manfred Durniok

SYNOPSIS

Emma and Böbe are two country girls, they were teaching Russian in the former regime in one of the primary school in the capital. The change of the history, the change of the system swept away the obligation of learning Russian, so that they could go on teaching, They attend an evening course of English and next morning they start teaching the children their newly-obtained knowledge. The story tells us about Emma and Böbe’s struggle for survival, for retaining their social position, that they could establish with very hard work during the former system. They don’t want to “slide down”, to live as country girls again.

CRITICAL NOTE

“How can you live without love and faith?, asks young Emma (…). The answer is practically impossible and the film remarks this with a variety of narrative tones which, even with its stylistic choices, underline the disorientation experienced by Eastern Europe after the fall of the Soviet empire. Nightmares and comedic glimpses, off-screen voices and theatrical sketches, everything is combined together (…). The film does not show any longing for the past (of which it harshly lists compromises and subterfuges), but the scene in which the teachers are showing themselves naked in the hope of getting a small part in a film is just as bitter and desperate.” (Paolo Mereghetti, Sette 9 September 1993)

 AWARDS AND FESTIVAL

1992 Berlinale – International Competition: Silver Bear

1992 European Film Award:  Best Screenplay

1992  Silver Ribbons: Miglior Best European Director