Love

aka: Szerelem
Hungary 1971, 84 minutes
Dir. Karoly Makk
In Hungarian with English subtitles
Rating: [PG]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Drama

Aroview: A quiet miracle of the little-seen Hungarian cinema, this quietly impressive story follows a woman's ongoing attention to her vibrant but bedridden mother-in-law, following her husband's disappearance in 'political' circumstances (echoing the 1956 Hungarian uprising).

Keeping up the illusion that the husband has not been jailed but is rather a successful filmmaker in Hollywood, the wife gradually gets overtaken by her own financial difficulties. With a perfect balance of lyricism, tough honesty and unfolding drama, dir. Makk manages to craft a truly wonderful portrait of love, conviction and practical deceptions being tested under trying circumstances. Highly recommended.