Red Psalm (1972)

Set in the 1890s on the Hungarian plains, a group of farm workers go on strike in-which they face harsh reprisals and the reality of revolt, oppression, morality and violence.

Director:

Miklós Jancsó

Writer:

Gyula Hernádi

Stars:

Andrea Drahota, Gyöngyi Bürös, Erzsi Cserhalmi

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrea Drahota	...	Nagy Mária, szocialista
Gyöngyi Bürös	...	Ráczné, szocialista
Erzsi Cserhalmi	...	Galambos lány, szocialista
Mari Csomós	...	Cselédlány
Ilona Gurnik	...	Paraszt asszony
Éva Spányik	...	Fehérkendõs halottsirató asszony
Zsuzsa Ferdinándy	...	Grófnõ
József Madaras	...	Hegedüs Bálint, szocialista
Lajos Balázsovits	...	Fiatal tiszt
Tibor Orbán	...	Pongrácz András, szocialista
Jácint Juhász	...	Tóth Ferenc, szocialista
András Bálint	...	Majláth gróf
Bertalan Solti	...	Öreg Hegedüs
Tibor Molnár	...	Lovas Imre, szocialista
János Koltai	...	Szocialista

Storyline

Set in the 1890s on the Hungarian plains, a group of farm workers go on strike in-which they face harsh reprisals and the reality of revolt, oppression, morality and violence.

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Plot Keywords:

oppression | 1890s | revolt | class struggle | 19th century | 

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | War

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Details

Country:

Hungary

Language:

Hungarian English Latin

Release Date:

9 March 1972 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

Red Psalm

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

MAFILM 1. Játékfilmstúdió

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie consists of only 27 takes.

User Reviews

Very Hungarian. Very socialist. Very difficult.

Jancso's movies can be recommended only to people with serious interest in movie-making and especially alternative European cinema. As in "Szerelmem, Elektra" Jancso again uses his favorite images and sounds. Hundreds of extras dance and perform rituals on the vast Hungarian plain surrounded by galloping horses (a traditional Hungarian animal as the Hungarians are heirs of the nomadic Huns). Very often the viewer is confronted by naked women walking around, I am still confused as to what they symbolize...that socialism needs no violence to overtake the old regime? Another typical feature is the solemnity with which the actors converse and act, no real dialog is to be found but a series of monologues. These monologues reveal what Jancso is most interested in - socialism and the equality of people. It is difficult for the viewer to keep up with them as they follow one after the other to bombard him with socialist ideology on the rights of the workers, the rising of the masses, the resistance, etc. Jancso tries to show that socialism can peacefully convert even the officials of the old order as seen by the officer refusing to suppress the mutineers and the soldiers dancing with the crowd towards the end of the movie. Regarding the lengthy monologues on socialism, a resemblance to Godard and his La Chinoise...?

This movie is difficult to watch due to its complex imagery intertwined with the socialist ideology that Jancso's characters devour us with. There may appear the question whether this movie can be seen out of the context of a life in a regime glorifying socialism (Hungary between 1945 and 1989). For anyone interested in movie-making by Hungarian directors, I recommend first starting with Szabo's films such as Mephisto, Oberst Redl and Sunshine, then going through Bela Tarr's movies, and finally trying Jancso.