Szaffi (1985)

At the beginning of the story, the imperial forces of Prince Eugene of Savoy are besieging Temesvár (1716), the last stronghold in the Kingdom of Hungary still in Turkish hands. The fortress is still holding out, but Ahmed Pasha and his infant daughter, Szófia, are fleeing. Their treasures are buried on the estate of Ahmed’s good friend, Gáspár Botsinkay, who has betrothed his son, Jónás, to Szofi. Since Botsinkay’s life is also in danger because he is friendly with the Turks, he too sets out to flee. As they head toward the Danube, little Szaffi falls into the swollen river along with the letter marking the treasure’s location, and they are unable to save her. In Istanbul, Ahmed Pasha is executed for surrendering the fortress, and old Botsinkay dies before he can reveal the secret of the treasure to anyone. Little Jónás is raised by wandering Roma: he travels the world with them, makes a bear dance, steals horses, and performs magic tricks. That is how he hears the news that Emperor Charles has declared an amnesty. He decides to return and claim the Botsinkay estate from Sir Feuerstein, the debt-ridden governor of Temesvár. The knight tries to talk him out of it, since he has heard about the pasha’s treasure and has searched for it, but to no avail. Jónás is disheartened by the sight of the estate, blasted and looted, but discovers the home of Cafrinka, an old woman who lives by the nearby waterfront. She once rescued Szaffi, who has since grown into a beautiful young woman and shares her home with many creatures of the marsh. Cafrinka also has a cat named Szaffi, and Jónás becomes convinced that the old woman is a witch who can transform the girl into a cat and back again at will. Hinting at Szaffi, the old woman predicts that if Jónás gets married, he will find the treasure. He decides to find himself a bride of his own station. Puzzola, Feuerstein’s villainous servant, overhears all this; he was originally sent to kill Jónás. Looking out for his own interests, Puzzola decides to let the young man marry, then get rid of everyone—especially since his chosen bride is the area’s only noblewoman, Arzéna, daughter of Loncsár, an upstart pig dealer. The penniless governor is in love with Arzéna too, but his debts make him unable to buy a barony, and his lady will not marry without one. By repeatedly opening the valve that lets off the steam generated by the governor’s agitation, Puzzola eventually manages to persuade him to go along with the plan as well. On his way to meet the family, Jónás is mercilessly plied with drink by Loncsár, the fabulously wealthy pig dealer who is also after the treasure, so the proposal ends in a scandal. The newly ennobled former dealer writes a letter to the governor, which falls into Jónás’s hands—but Jónás delivers it without opening it. Loncsár wants Jónás killed, however, and he is eventually thrown into the bear pit at Feuerstein’s headquarters. But there is no bear: Menyus, its trainer, has eaten the bear out of its fur because the knight forgot to provide its rations. Disguised in a bearskin, Jónás escapes from the castle and, with the help of the Roma, saves both Szaffis and Cafrinka. The treasure is found as well. In the end, everything turns out well: the Botsinkay estate flourishes, the third and youngest Szaffi is born, and the villains get what they deserve: Puzzola is sent back to the Bologna prison, while Feuerstein works off his enormous debt to Loncsár—as a curling-iron warmer.