Memories of a River

Memories of a River
Directed by	Judit Elek
Produced by	Gábor Hanák; Hubert Niogret; András Ozori
Written by	Judit Elek; Péter Nádas
Music by	Péter Eötvös; György ifj. Kurtág
Cinematography	Gábor Halász
Edited by	Katalin Kabdebo
Distributed by	Quartet Films Inc. (USA)
Release date	8 February 1990 (Hungary); 20 March 1992 (U.S.);
Running time	147 minutes
Country	Hungary; France
Language	Hungarian

Memories of a River (Hungarian: Tutajosok) is a 1990 Hungarian drama film directed by Judit Elek. It is a historical film set in 1882 and tells the story of the last trial in Hungary of a Jew for ritual murder.[1]

Synopsis

In the 19th century Austro-Hungarian Empire David Hersko, a Jewish shepherd, witnesses the attack of a young girl. His home is burned down and he finds shelter with the family of a Jewish logger. The loggers find the body of a young woman which they bury, going against local laws. They are charged with her murder and it is believed that they killed her as a ritual murder.[2]

Cast

Sándor Gáspár as Herskó Dávid
András Stohl as Matej
Pál Hetényi as Csepkanics
Zoltán Mucsi as Jákob
Franciszek Pieczka as Vogel Ansel
János Ács as Vay György
Tamás Fodor as Eötvös Károly
Róbert Koltai as Scharf József
Andor Lukáts as Schwarz Salamon
Georgiana Tarjan as Sára

Controversy

For the purposes of the film 14 sheep were spread with flammable substance, and then to the order by Judit Elek were burned alive.[3] 69 scientists from the Jagiellonian University demanded from authorities of forbidding Judit Elek entry to Poland. Scientists wrote among others: "No director knowing her own worth would debase herself for using so primitive and cruel methods".

Awards

The film won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1989 Montréal World Film Festival.[4] In 1990 it won the Grand Prix at the Créteil International Women's Film Festival.[5]

References

Chanes, Jerome A. (2004). Antisemitism: a reference handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 317. ISBN 1-57607-209-6.
Holden, Stephen (20 March 1992). "To Be a Jew In 1880s Hungary". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
Holden, Stephen (20 March 1992). "Tutajosok: Review/Film; To Be a Jew In 1880s Hungary". NY Times.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
"Director: Judit Elek". San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. 1996. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
"Best Screenplay Award from Cairo". Filmunió. 9 December 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2009.

External links

Memories of a River at IMDb
Memories of a River at AllMovie

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[1] Chanes, Jerome A. (2004). Antisemitism: a reference handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 317. ISBN 1-57607-209-6.

[2] Holden, Stephen (20 March 1992). "To Be a Jew In 1880s Hungary". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 September 2009.

[NY_Times-3] Holden, Stephen (20 March 1992). "Tutajosok: Review/Film; To Be a Jew In 1880s Hungary". NY Times.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2010.

[4] "Director: Judit Elek". San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. 1996. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2009.

[5] "Best Screenplay Award from Cairo". Filmunió. 9 December 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2009.