THE UNDESIRABLE
(A tolonc)
Hungarian silent film, 1914, 66 min.
directed by Michael Curtiz (Mihály Kertész)
incidental music by Attila Pacsay
actors: Lili Berky, Mari Jászai, Mihály Várkonyi, István Szentgyörgyi, Andor Szakács, Gyula Nagy, Marcsa Simon

The Undesirable is one of the many lost films of Hungary’s golden age of silent film. This hundred-year-old silent film was discovered in the basement of the Hungarian House, a cultural Center in New York City. How it got there is still unknown, but great efforts have been made to return the film to its homeland. The film is the adaptation of the story of an unjustly expelled Hungarian maid, a folk play by Hungarian playwright Ede Tóth. Betty is brought up by her uncle in the country, having lost both her parents at early age. On his death bed, her uncle tells her that her mother had actually been in prison all these years. Left alone, Betty goes to the city, and finds a job as a maid. Nick, the eldest son of the family falls in love with her. However, Nick’s mother throws Betty out, accusing her of theft. Betty is sent back to her native village, without knowing that her mother Sara has now been released from prison and is looking for her…

The screening will be introduced by film- and music critic László Kolozsi. (in Hungarian)

Guest: Attila Pacsay - composer

Entry to the program is free, but due to the limited number of seats a primary registration via e-mail ([email protected]) is requested, latest by 12:00 11th April,  2018. Thanks for your understanding!

℗ BMC