FATHER & LOVEFILM
Hosted by critic Zsolt Gyenge
Archived DISCUSSION
SUNDAY | JUNE 2 | 12PM PT
Where do you start with the films of István Szabó, one of the most acclaimed Hungarian filmmakers of the 20th century? His career spans six decades, with 18 feature films (from Age of Illusions in 1965 to Final Report, in 2020) in Hungarian, German and English, with multiple accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (Mephisto). Luckily filmmaker Mike Mills has given us entry points: Father (1966) and Lovefilm (1970), two of Szabó’s earliest and perhaps most intimate works.
Renowned for his elegant blend of individual and historical narrative, Szabó’s second and third films position coming-of-age and romance against the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, with flourishes of French New Wave–inspired nonlinear storytelling. Reflecting on Lovefilm, Mills shares, “It’s a very personal story that ended up changing my cinematic life and really influenced my film Beginners.”
Tune in on Saturday, June 1, for a double-feature screening, beginning with Father (88m) at 12pm PT and followed by Lovefilm (120m).
Then on Sunday, June 2, join Budapest-based critic and professor Zsolt Gyenge to discuss the films and zoom out on the personal and historical context of this celebrated and controversial filmmaker.
