Plot
An Hungarian youth comes of age at Buchenwald during World War II. György Köves is 14, the son of a merchant who's sent to a forced labor camp. After his father's departure, György gets a job at a brickyard; his bus is stopped and its Jewish occupants sent to camps. There, György find camaraderie, suffering, cruelty, illness, and death. He hears advice on preserving one's dignity and self-esteem. He discovers hatred. If he does survive and returns to Budapest, what will he find? What is natural; what is it to be a Jew? Sepia, black and white, and color alternate to shade the mood.
Written by
Imre Kertész
Directed by
Lajos Koltai
Crew
Production Countries
Israel, United Kingdom, Hungary, Germany
Production Companies
Recanati Foundation, Rabinovich Film Fund Cinema Project, Motion Picture Public Foundation of Hungary, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, MFG Filmförderung, The Israeli Film Council, Hungarian Historic Foundation, Eurimages, Cinema Soleil, MDR, Hungarian Television, Renegade Films, EuroArts, Magic Media, Ingenious Media, Hungarian Motion Picture Ltd.
Languages
Deutsch, Magyar, , English, Polski
Awards
6 wins & 7 nominations