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12 August 1945, 11 AM. Two mysterious strangers dressed in black appear at the railway station of a Hungarian village. Within a few hours, everything changes.
Just a few short years after “Son of Saul” won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, another superb Hungarian film dealing with the persecution of Jews in WWII is being released in markets all over the country. Whereas “Son of Saul” took place during the war, “1945” is told from a very different perspective that is often underrepresented in Holocaust films. What happens when the war is over?
Spanning the course of a single day, “1945” begins in a small, rural Hungarian village just as the news is released on the radio; the Americans have launched the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The war on European soil has ended, but the ruins (both physically and emotionally) remain. And there is a constant presence of Russian patrols in the countryside, as Hungary is in flux. But today the townspeople put their thoughts of the past aside because it is to be a day of joy and celebration. The town magistrate is preparing for his son’s marriage to a local peasant girl. The entire village is in the midst of preparations when a train arrives carrying two mysterious passengers.
An Orthodox Jewish man and his son disembark, accompanied by two large wooden crates labeled, “Parfum.” The arrival of the two strangers, recognizable by their clothes and beard, bring to light the ghosts of the past. The two men, armed with serious expressions and their dignity, walk slowly behind a cart which hauls their curious cargo of goods as they head towards the village. As they walk in silence, the two men serve as catalysts. The rumors begin almost immediately and lead to uncertainty which gives way to fear.
“Who are these men?” And more importantly, the townspeople ask, “What do they want?” This very simple event – the arrival of two men on a train – trigger speculation that unearths the secretive history of this small village. Not surprisingly (if you know your history), these are the folks who collaborated with the Nazis for the deportation of their Jewish friends. Some were exploited by neighbors and business partners who raided their property, stole their homes and robbed them of treasured possessions.
But “1945” is not about war or weapons, but a portrait of a collective awareness of guilt by those who may have benefitted by their persecution. They fear that these men who arrived by train may be heirs to the Jewish villagers who were deported by the Nazis and perhaps they intend to reclaim the ill-gotten property they lost in World War II. Little by little, the inhabitants come to terms with their conscience.
Integrating an evocative musical score and unusual camera angles with contrasty light, director Ferenc Török invokes the classic Western. Think “High Noon.” And its minimalism and stylization reminded me of (and I say this with all due respect) to certain Twilight Episodes, where less is said and more is implied. But don’t expect lots of action, the film is slow-moving. But that is part of its charm. And for those who are not keen on subtitles, emotions speak louder than words (less to read!).
“1945” is the award-winning film directed by Ferenc Török and based on the acclaimed short story ‘Homecoming’ by Gábor T. Szántó, who also collaborated on the script. The movie has garnered many audience awards at festivals across the world including Yad Vashem Chairman’s Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival 2017. It was also recognized by the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) – 1st Annual Justice Award – “For raising awareness about property confiscated from Jews during the Holocaust and for ensuring that history is not forgotten.”
I only say this once a year and I have been saving it for just the right film, if you see one movie this year – “1945” is it! You MUST see this stunning tale of secrets. It will leave a powerful impression and you will remember it for a long, long time.
Not rated (no nudity or violence)
Language: Hungarian and Russian (with subtitles)
Runtime: 91 minutes
In select theaters Friday, June 22nd
