Cinema
Liliomfi
Károly Makk · 1955
Synopsis
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, a troupe of travelling actors arrives at Balatonfüred to perform Romeo and Juliet. Its young lead, Liliomfi, falls in love at first sight with Mariska, who has come to the show with her governess, Camilla. Mariska is the ward of Professor Szilvay Tódor, who wants to take her away to marry her to his only heir, his nephew Szilvay Gyula. At the Badacsony inn, Liliomfi disguises himself as a waiter to get close to the one he loves, and the whole troupe joins in.
Context
The film adapts the comedy that Ede Szigligeti had written in 1849. Dezső Mészöly's adaptation and the screenplay move the action from Kolozsvár to the shores of Lake Balaton, to Füred and Badacsony. Shot in 1954, it is Makk's first feature film. Far from the themes of socialist realism, this comedy of mistaken identities was a great popular success and revealed Marianne Krencsey. Released in Budapest on 24 February 1955, it was presented in competition at Cannes the same year, without winning a prize.
Who it is for
One hundred and nine minutes of misunderstandings, disguises and stage business, on the shores of Lake Balaton; no French release has been located.
Prizes and reception
One of the most-watched films of its time in Hungary, and selected in 2012 among the fifty-three best Hungarian films.
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