Confidence (Hungarian: Bizalom) is a 1980 Hungarian film directed by István Szabó, set in the waning days of World War II. It chronicles the story of two resistance members who are compelled to assume the roles of husband and wife in order to evade detection by the Nazis, despite being married to others.[1] The film garnered critical acclaim, earning Szabó the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival[2] and receiving a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 53rd Academy Awards.[3]
| Confidence | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | István Szabó |
| Written by | István Szabó |
| Cinematography | Lajos Koltai |
| Edited by | Zsuzsa Csákány |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Hungary |
| Language | Hungarian |
Plot
editDuring the closing stages of World War II, amidst the siege of Budapest, Kata (Ildikó Bánsági) is intercepted on her way home from the cinema and informed that her apartment is being searched. She learns that her daughter and husband, a member of the Hungarian resistance, have already fled to safety. With false papers under the alias Mrs. János Bíró, she seeks refuge in a suburban house alongside her "husband" (Péter Andorai), a prominent figure in the resistance movement. In their shared quarters, János treats Kata with aloofness, outlining the rules of hiding: she mustn't leave without his consent and is forbidden from divulging personal information.
As the threat of exposure looms and a mutual attraction develops, Kata and János engage in a clandestine affair. János, haunted by a past betrayal to the Gestapo by a former lover in Germany, initially resists his feelings for Kata. However, as time passes, he allows himself to love her. When Kata ventures to reunite with her real husband, she grapples with guilt. Meanwhile, János gradually overcomes his fear and paranoia, only to realize his love for Kata when it's too late, as his actions have irreparably damaged their relationship.
Following the war's conclusion and the lifting of the siege, a car arrives for János, who departs with a promise to contact Kata soon. However, Kata finds herself in a predicament when she must prove her identity before a verification committee. Her original documents were destroyed during her time in hiding, and only János can attest to her true identity. Reluctantly, Kata returns to her husband while János appears at the verification center, calling for his "wife" among the assembled crowd.
Cast
edit- Ildikó Bánsági ... Kata
- Péter Andorai ... János
- Oszkárné Gombik ... A néni
- Károly Csáki ... A bácsi
- Ildikó Kishonti ... Erzsi
- Lajos Balázsovits ... Kata férje
- Tamás Dunai ... Günther Hoffmann
- Zoltán Bezerédi ... Pali
- Éva Bartis
- Béla Éless (as Béla Éles)
- Danielle du Tombe ... Elza
- Gyula Gazdag ... Egy férfi
- Gyöngyi Dorogi
- László Littmann ... Dr. Czakó (as dr. Littmann László)
- Judit Halász ... János felesége
Accolades
edit| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | 30th Berlin International Film Festival | Golden Bear | István Szabó | Nominated | [4] |
| Silver Bear for Best Director | Won | [5] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ British Film Institute
- ^ "Berlinale 1980: Prize Winners". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ "The 53rd Academy Awards (1981) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
- ^ "Berlinale-Archive-Programme-Bizalom". Berlinale. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Berlinale-Archive-Awards". Berlinale. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
External links
edit
 | This article related to a Hungarian film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about a war drama film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |