Hungarian director Ferenc Török’s 1945 is a post-WWII drama, based on the acclaimed short story “Homecoming” by Gábor T. Szántó who co-wrote the script with Török.
On a summer day in 1945, an Orthodox man and his son return to a village in Hungary while the villagers prepare for the wedding of the town clerk’s son. The townspeople – suspicious, remorseful, fearful, and cunning – expect the worst and behave accordingly.
The town clerk fears that the men may be heirs of the village’s deported Jews and expects them to demand their illegally acquired property back.
Director Török paints a complex picture of a society trying to come to terms with the recent horrors they’ve experienced, perpetrated, or just tolerated for personal gain.
A superb ensemble cast, lustrous black and white cinematography, and historically detailed art direction contribute to a captivating drama.
Hungarian writer-director Ferenc Török, who is 46, was born in Budapest where he studied at the Academy of Drama and Film. His graduation film, Moscow Square, won the Best First Film Award at the 2000 Hungarian Film Festival. Since then, he has directed for the screen and the stage.
“1945” is his sixth feature film.
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