’ 35mm Film on Postwar Hungary’s Silent Generation
Hopelessness:
the burdened life of Hungary’s silent generation in the 1950s, after the Second World War. Budapest, a woman, a Jewish young widow, raising her early-teen son alone. She still carries the yellow stigma. Grey, fear-filled weekdays. The crushed 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Terror of informants, spies everywhere. Misery in the labyrinth of lies. This is the life of Elza Hirsch, who can give no more than this to her son, Andor.
Anger:
hopeless waiting. Alienated cultural heritage. Humiliation. Unchecked rage, fatal extremes—such is the daily reality of Andor Hirsch.
Power:
abuse, exploitation. Grandiosity. Violence. In the guise of a benefactor: Berend.
The Orphan is a film of the soul, portraying the perilous tensions of early adolescence. Shot on 35 mm, the format powerfully supports the storytelling. The colors, the textures, the depths are faithful to the era. They speak for themselves. They elevate the film. Musically, however, it falls far behind the gripping story—it deserves so much more.
Bruh, why?!
First: most likely because it’s hard to find a generous musical genius willing to compose purely out of inspiration, for free. Yet the film brims with profound scenes crying out for a score—one that plucks the strings of the soul through the ear, while the images leave a lasting imprint on the mind. It’s not that there’s no music. There is a score. But it could be more. Much more.
Second: because if musical geniuses aren’t naturally drawn to a project, their fee alone can easily surpass the entire production budget. You feel me?!
The film, an international collaboration, is based on an original story by András Jeles and directed by László Nemes. It is already playing in Hungarian cinemas—and it’s well worth the ticket.
Because Kodak spins and crackles.
Photo: from the internet
