Szabadság, szerelem (2006)

Director:

Krisztina Goda

Writers (WGA):

Joe Eszterhas (screenplay) and
Éva Gárdos (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

6 December 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | Sport | War

Plot:

At the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, the Hungarian water polo team faces off against the Russians in what will become known as one of the bloodiest matches in the sport's history.

Cast

Kata Dobó	...	Viki Falk
Iván Fenyö	...	Karcsi Szabó
Sándor Csányi	...	Tibi Vámos
Károly Gesztesi	...	Coach Telki
Ildikó Bánsági	...	Karcsi's Mother
Tamás Jordán	...	Karcsi's Grandfather
Viktória Szávai	...	Eszter Hanák
Zsolt Huszár	...	Jancsi Gál
Tamás Keresztes	...	Imi Ács
Péter Haumann	...	Uncle Feri
Daniel Gabori	...	Józsika
Róbert Marton	...	Márton Karod (Compó)
Kornél Simon	...	Gyula Abonyi (Báró)
Krisztián Kolovratnik	...	Sándor Fazekas (Frank)
Antal Czapkó	...	Prokop

Also Known As:

Children of Glory (International: English title)
Untitled Joe Eszterhas Project (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

Germany:123 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Country:

Hungary

Language:

Hungarian | Russian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:12A | Sweden:15 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

C2

One of the saddest part of Hungarian history made the most remarkable Hungarian film...

I may not be objective since I'm a Hungarian and a patriot, and especially after the very sad 50th anniversary, this was some kind of relief for me.

First the bad, then the goods... Dobó Kata is the only bad thing happened to this, but she's really bad. I never appreciated her - never saw any movie where she didn't pose in lingerie - but after this I have to say, she has to run around in lingerie because in clothes, there's nothing touching in her, nothing that makes you believe what she says, no emotions on her face whatever. She cannot act, that's it.

But the movie had so many strong appearances and so many talented people behind the cameras, that you easily forget about Dobó.

Iván Fenyö; is no surprise, he's been in the Jake Gyllenhal movie Jarhead before (which I didn't like though), and he can act. He's enjoyable here, not his best and not the best in the movie though.

Károly Gesztesi is phenomenal in his role as the coach, one of the most likable characters here. The other of the greatest performances is brought by Sándor Csányi. He's well-known for his leading role in Kontroll, and he simply outshines everyone here as well. The leading lady - after Dobó's failure - is surely Viki Szávai, Eszter in the movie (Dobó's best friend). She's playing so easily you can believe she's not even playing, it's her true self... I liked the character so much thanks her playing that the loss of her was one of the saddest moments for me though it was almost obvious what has to happen to her.

Vic Armstrong did a great job with what he had... The few tanks and other limitations didn't stop him to recreate what was happening on the streets of Budapest. You'll be scared by thinking it through, it's so real...

Kriszta Goda's second movie direction here makes you need to see the first as well. She did an amazing job here.

After all, I was touched, and touched is such a cliché when talking about this movie and the story behind it.

1956 means something for everyone who has at least a little percentage of Hungarian blood in his/her veins... either you were here afterwards and saw the aftermath, either you live here now as young and have the same needs, feelings for freedom, or you're living abroad and were raised on stories about Hungary and how your family had to live, run through the border while they were shooting at them... Or you've heard about the story, you know someone who's Hungarian. Or even reading about it here, and seeing this movie it'll change you a little bit, in what you think about Hungary. I hope less people will laugh at those cheap jokes by comedians on the US national TV after seeing this little history lesson.

No matter how many stories you've heard it's not like being there and seeing this movie will bring you back as a watcher, you'll understand them more and appreciate them more. After leaving the theater you'll surely believe the people who died on the streets or in the AVO prisons were true heroes. Makes you feel the need to do something patriotic as well...

Thus I hope everyone of you goes out to see it, internationally. After so many touching movies about American history, here's your chance to see how those in the Eastern block struggled and fought for their lives. It's totally different and I hope it'll bring difference.

Wanted to give a 10, but -1 coz of DK.