Review of Budapesti mesék

8/10
Tramway road movie
16 January 2005
A thoughtful 1960s sort of movie, with a title that doesn't tell much, though the film does begin with a brief visual history of the Budapest trolleycar system. In a mythic version of the situation after World War II people find an overturned trolleycar far outside of town, right it, and begin mostly pushing it toward the city, joined by other wandering individuals. The people, with great faces and mostly respectable ways, succeed at cooperating, though with some squabbles and disasters. The time is also mythic, and not a historical allegory as far as this foreigner can tell, with new born twins showing up later aged 2 or 3. The characters are what is important, and one does get glimpses of their stories, and would enjoy learning more. Besides the good performers, there are great images, though on a much lower budget that Werner Herzog had to get Fitzcarraldo over the mountains. A good video rental place should have the film, since the director has gone on to great things, including the recent "Being Julia."
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