Electra, My Love-Movie Review 03/03/2011
Posted by Films to consider in Drama, Hungarian language film, Movies, Musical.trackback
Electra, My Love (Hungarian) 1974
Szerelmem, Elektra
Winner, Special Prize, Cannes Film Festival
Directed by Miklós Jancsó; written by László Gyurko and Gyula Hernádi
Adapted from the play by László Gyurko
Starring Mari Tōröcsik, Gyōrgi Cserhalmi, József Madaras, and Lajos Balázsovits
An artistic rendition of the story of Electra (Tōröcsik) and Orestes (Cserhalmi) who avenge the death of their father at the hands of their stepfather Aegisthus (Madaras). Jancso sets the play on the plains of Hungary, complete with Hungarian folk music and crowds of dancers (many of them naked). Very beautiful and moving performances, music, and choreography, with a surprise ending.
Director Miklós Jancsó is known for his stylized storytelling, extra-long takes (even in short films like this one), and political allegories.
This is a film that gets mixed reactions, and it will probably not to be to everyone’s taste. I enjoyed it very much, especially the performance by Mari Tōröcsik, as she portrays Electra’s emotional extremes, first of madness and then almost delirious joy.
71 min. Not rated. Nudity.
FILMS TO CONSIDER 
Having visited Hungary last year, this is a film I’m going to look for in Netflix.