Pacsirta (1964)
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Directors
Cast
Antal Páger, Klári Tolnay, Anna Nagy, Margit Bara
When their daughter leaves for a few days, a withdrawn couple briefly reclaim a social life shadowed by her expected return.
The story
For years, Ákos Vajkay and his wife have hoped to marry off their daughter, Pacsirta, whose fate has been unhappy. The family has withdrawn from the outside world and even covers its mirrors. They send Pacsirta to stay with relatives for a few days, hoping she might find a husband there. Left alone, the couple reconnect with old friends, go to the theater, and begin to resume their social life, though the brief change is overshadowed by the knowledge that their daughter will return.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Dezső Kosztolányi’s novel tells the tragic story of the Vajkay family. For years, Ákos Vajkay (Antal Páger) and his wife (Klári Tolnay) have hoped that they will finally be able to marry off their ugly daughter, Pacsirta, whose fate has been unhappy. For some time, the family has not ventured out of the house; they even cover the mirrors so they do not have to face reality: as long as Pacsirta remains a burden to them, they have no chance of a happy, normal life. One day, they send her away to stay with relatives for a few days, hoping she might find a husband there. The world soon opens up to the couple left on their own: they reunite with old friends, go to the theater, and resume their social life. But the terrible knowledge remains with them throughout—that this happiness can last only until Pacsirta moves back into her parents’ home. For his outstanding performance in the film, Antal Páger received an award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964.
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