Judit Biró

Los padres de Miklós Fenyö regresaron a la Hungría comunista a mediados de los años sesenta, cuando todos los demás huían hacia el oeste. Los viejos amigos de Miki no saben qué hacer con su escandalosa ropa, su impecable acento americano y su colección original de Buddy Holly 45s. Su novia de la infancia es fría y distante, mientras que el tipo duro local Röné no se conmueve ante el desafío de su corona de rock 'n' roll. Pero eso no es todo. Cuando las autoridades ven el efecto que las caderas giratorias y la música obscena de Miki tienen sobre las adolescentes, no lo tolerarán. El trabajo de su padre está en juego y, por primera vez, Miki debe cumplir las reglas. No tiene más remedio que ingresar al concurso de talentos local ...

The seeming hopelessness of combatting an all-powerful government that will not tolerate political dissension is the focus of this excellent historical drama set in the mid-19th century in Hungary. In the opening scenes, Hungary has just lost its bid for independence from Austria and a Magyar officer, unable to bear the tragedy of defeat and what it means, says an affectionate good-bye to his beloved horse and then shoots the animal and himself. Two years later, Ferenc (Gyorgy Cserhalmi) is trying to eke out a living for his wife and her family -- and at the same time avoid any hint of sympathy for Hungarian independence because the Secret Police are everywhere. Just as life seems to be going well, Ferenc's former commanding officer (Lajos Oze) arrives and begins discussing revolution again -- a futile pursuit at this point in time. The next day, Ferenc is thrown into an insane asylum and everyone else is arrested as well.

Three generations live side by side. The wilful, jack-in-all-pots grandmother blackmails the family with fake faintings, while grandpa suffers from cerebral sclerosis. Mother manages a fashionable hotel, she needs to look smart and unyielding, even when their weird uncle drives into the restaurant drunk. Father is an introverted, solitary teacher, who from time to time turns the home inside out in pursuit of his hobby, i.e. topography, and his mental balance. Suddenly unexpected things come to light about their teen-age daughter, Juli.