Hungary (1983): Drama

This film is set in Nazi-occupied Eastern Hungary in 1943. Like his Biblical namesake, the elderly Jób (Ferenc Zenthe) has had his strength and patience sorely tested. None of the children borne by Jób's wife Róza (Hédi Temesay) have survived to adulthood. In a last-ditch effort to preserve his name, Jób unofficially adopts a 7-year-old boy (Gábor Féhrer). It takes a while for the boy and his new "parents" to get used to each other, but eventually a strong, solid bond is formed. But while the bond cannot be broken spiritually, it can be severed physically: Jób and his wife are Jewish, thus it is only a matter of time before the Nazis cart them off to death camps. Just before bidding farewell to his foster son, Jób advises the boy to keep his faith alive by searching for the true Messiah. Co-directors/co-writers Imre Gyöngyössy and Barna Kabay deftly tell this tale from a child's-eye point of view -- even when dealing in the frankest of sexual matters. Other co-writers are Katalin Gyöngyössy and Katalin Petényi. (MAFILM, et al./TeleCulture) (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)

· Foreign Language Film Award 1983: (Hungary) (No producer credited.)

1 nomination