The Schoolmistress
Directed byMárton Keleti
Written byIstván Békeffy
Gyula Háy
Andor Zsoldos
Based onThe Schoolmistress by Sándor Bródy
Produced byAndor Zsoldos
StarringÉva Szörényi
Pál Jávor
Kálmán Rózsahegyi
CinematographyIstván Eiben
Edited bySándor Zákonyi
Music byTibor Polgár
Production
company
Release date
  • 22 September 1945 (1945-09-22)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryHungary
LanguageHungarian

The Schoolmistress (Hungarian: A Tanítónő) is a 1945 Hungarian drama film directed by Márton Keleti and starring Éva Szörényi, Pál Jávor and Kálmán Rózsahegyi . It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.[1] It was shot at the Hunnia Studios in Budapest and on location around Ócsa. The film's sets were designed by the art director József Pán. The film was based on the 1908 novel The Schoolmistress by Sándor Bródy, previously adapted into a 1917 silent film of the same title.[2] It was one only two Hungarian films released that year, along with After the Storm, due to the disruption caused by the Battle of Budapest and Soviet occupation.[3]

Cast

Plot

The protagonist of the story, based on the play of Sándor Bródy, is Flóra, a female teacher from the capital, who wants to teach in the village in accordance with her professional sense and oath. The local elite, who always playing with cards, prejudiced and obscurantist men don't expect much good from the newcomer, but as soon as she arrives, they immediately start circling around her, trying to impress her by initiating intelligent (intended) conversations, and try to court her. Because of her beauty and purity, it comes into conflict with the local powers and the landowning family of the region. The well-respected people of the village, who arrogantly consider themselves superior to their peers, both Hungarians and minorities, primarily Serbs and Jews, the serf judge, the chaplain, the district doctor, the pharmacist and the law judge, without exception, make slick offers to the young woman again and again, but they are refused so they started blaming her with immoral life style. Aware of her truth, she confronts them, but she can only count on the sympathy of the old priest. István Nagy Jr., a landowner's son living a lecherous, debauched life, fell in love with Flóra, and the love changes him: he stands by her, exposes the lustful hypocrites. Finally, István Nagy Sr. asks for Flóra's hand in marriage for his son.

References

  1. "Festival de Cannes: A Tanítónő". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  2. Costello p.35
  3. Cunningham p.62

Bibliography

  • Costello, Tom. International Guide to Literature on Film. Bowker-Saur, 1994.
  • Cunningham, John. Hungarian Cinema: From Coffee House to Multiplex. Wallflower Press, 2004.
  • Kósa, László. A Cultural History of Hungary: In the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Corvina, 2000.


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