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

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

User Reviews

Challenges our ideas of what cinema should be.

The Red Psalm is an almost unapproachable film these days; the filmmaking practises of today have made us western viewers forget how to watch films that are not made to entertain.

The Story is simple enough: the Red Psalm depicts the rise and fall of a peasant revolt in the earliest days of socialism. The focus is on the reasons why it doesn't succeed, rather than on characters and plot. In fact, to use words like "character" and "plot" in connection to the Red Psalm would be misguiding.

This is an example of a film where message dictates the cinematic language of the film. It is not meant to be a realistic depiction of the living conditions of the peasants in the late 19th century. Instead it tries to depict realistically the reasons and causes of such tragedies in general. The film is full of what some people would call "gaffes", but they are there just because it does not matter if the actor has his wristwatch on or whether the guitar has nylon strings. That kind of authenticity is only superficial.

All in all, The Red Psalm is an ultimately challenging viewing recommended for everyone who is looking for alternatives to Hollywood pap. It demands the attention of the viewer throughout, because it is not generic in any way. Yet it is not without its flaws. It is extremely slow paced, full of folk dancing and saturated with socialist propaganda. Yet features like Jancso's free flowing camera should interest at least wannabe filmmakers to this challenging and complex film.