Retrospective section to pay homage to Buster and Miklos

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The retrospective category in the 19^th IFFK will pay tribute to distinguished directors of 20^th centaury Buster Keaton and Miklos Jancso. 4 films of Keaton and 5 Films by Jancso will be screened in this section. Both directors followed different styles of filmmaking, had marked place for themselves in the history of world cinema.

Buster Keaton, a prominent figure in the era of silent films, was a comedian-writer-director best known by his nickname ‘The Great Stone Face’ for his constant deadpan expression. Even with a face of distress, Keaton could entertain his audience to the brim of laughter. Born in 1895 in America, he made his entry to the film industry in the year 1917. Keaton acted in more than 400 films and also directed many films in his glorious 70 years. He has also won the Academy Honorary Award in 1958 and leaving all his splendid creations behind the legend Buster Keaton passed away in 1966.

The four films of Buster Keaton that to be screened this year are: ‘Sherlock Jr.’ (1924), ‘Seven Chances’ (1925), ‘The General’ (1926) and ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ (1966).

Buster Keaton plays the role of a Cinema Projectionist in the film ‘Sherlock Jr.’ who is greatly inspired by Sherlock Holmes and wish to become a detective like Holmes. The film travels through a dream which the protagonist sees during his works where he walks into the film, interacting with its characters and starts solving crime files. A hilarious film directed by Keaton guaranties audience a great viewing experience.

Jimmie Shannon who is intimately in love with Mary Jones is unable to express his love towards her. As years pass by clumsy minded Jimmie learns that his deceased grandfather has left him with $7Million, provided he gets married by 7 pm on his 27^th birthday. The film ‘Seven Seasons’ directed by Buster Keaton depicts an array of unusual happenings that leads the viewers to a humorous world of comedy and entertainment.

‘The General’, jointly directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman, casts Keaton as a train engineer Johnnie Gray, who has two lovers: his engine and his girl Annabelle. Though Johnnie tries to join the military to fulfill his lover Annabelle’s wish, he gets rejected as the officials value him more as a train engineer. But Annabelle strongly decides not to talk with him until she sees him in the military uniform. The film portrays Johnnie’s effort to put his life back on track.

In 1966, Buster Keaton acted in his last film ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ which was directed by Richard Lester. This comic film depicts a cluster of hilarious events set in the background of the Roman Slave System. Keaton plays the role of a slave pseudolus, who is the laziest slave in Rome wanting to purchase his freedom at any cost.

The Hungarian director Miklos Jancso could be considered as the father of sound film as he was the man to mark a beginning for the transformation from silent films to sound films. He is noted for the portrayal of crisp and clear picturising of brutality, violence, rebellions and revolts. The retrospective segment will screen five films of Jancso from the year 1965 to 1974 namely, ‘The Round-up’ (1965), ‘Silence and Cry’ (1968), ‘The Confrontation’ (1969), ‘Red Psalm’ (1971) and ‘Electra, My Love’ respectively.

 ‘The Round-up’ released in 1965, depicts a clear picture of human brutality and cruelty. The film depicts the mental and physical torture the detained prisoners get who were captured after the defeat of Kossuth in a revolution against Habsburg rule in 1848.

Shot in skillful and brilliant long takes, which is a trade mark of Jancso, ‘Silence and Cry’ tells the story of a communist soldier who takes refugee at the farm of a peasant family, hiding from the anti-communist manhunt.

Alike the student protests and riots that broke out during the 1960, ‘The Confrontation’ tells the story of a rebellion and protest that took place in Hungary in 1947. This film is a notable film by Miklos Jancso as it is the first color film he directed.

‘Red Psalm’ earned Miklos Jancso the best director award in the Cannes International Film Festival. The film portrays the uprising of the 19^th century farmers of Hungary in 1890s. This film was completed in just 28 shots, demonstrating the director’s bold, rhythmic command of the expressive takes.

‘Electra, My Love’ is a film that captures the fire of revenge that blazes in the heart of Electra for those who murdered her father. Electra waits for her brother to return as she knows that he can get the right justice for their father’s death. The story of Electra is said to represent the hardships of Hungarian people and their historic sufferings.