Zoltán Huszárik is one of the great unsung masters of international cinema. With an output that comprised just two features and a handful of remarkable short films, his unique and beautifully realised works set him apart from all other contemporary filmmakers, creating an intoxicating body of work unlike any other in modern cinema.
his special edition 3-disc Blu-ray box set contains his two features Szindbád and Csontváry, plus five of his acclaimed, rarely seen short works - including his most renowned film poem, Elégia - presented from new 4K restorations and released for the first time ever on Blu-ray. With this release, one of Hungary’s best-kept cinematic secrets finally has a chance to flourish.
Szindbád (1971)
Considered a great ‘lost masterpiece’ of international cinema, Szindbád was chosen by Hungarian writers and filmmakers as one of the three best Hungarian films of all time. Based on the stories of surrealist writer Gyula Krúdy, this erotic elegy is a lush and sensuous depiction of the life, loves, and memories of hedonist and serial seducer Szindbád.
Csontváry (1979)
Huszárik's second and final feature is a dazzlingly inventive portrait of artist Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka. Now regarded as Hungary's greatest painter, the devout Csontváry was driven to madness by his passion to express the fullness of God's creation, whilst battling his own very human frailties. At once lyrical and surreal, the film is a vivid expression of the artists' impulse to create - and their facility to destroy.
Five short films (1963 - 1976)
A selection of Zoltan Huszárik's renowned short works, including his graduation film Groteszk (1963) and his professional directing debut, Elégia (1965), a veneration of the horse and their service to mankind. This experimental film poem introduced a distinctive new language into Hungarian cinema, and approach Huszárik continued to develop with his lyrical short works and sublimely poetic feature films throughout the 1970s. The disc also includes Capriccio (1969), Homage to Old Women (1971) and A Piacere (1976).
