A Hungarian poet who died in the Holocaust has been personified through his life and poetry by eight Hungarian directors' own contemporary vision of his everyday life and struggles.
A Hungarian poet who perished in the Holocaust is brought to life through a modern lens in a unique sketch film, created specifically for high school education. Eight Hungarian directors reimagine his everyday life and struggles, blending fiction, animation, and documentary styles to capture his essence through their contemporary visions.
The Dead Poet - 7 Tales of Miklos Radnoti is a sketch-film that focuses on the famous Hungarian poet's life through eight Hungarian director's eyes. Each story combines an original work of the poet and the young talent's own special genre that gives a unique journey for the viewers. Seven different type of storytelling and period of lifetime recall the importance and greatness of Radnoti's constantly struggling plight.
Month of Gemini tells the story of a young boy who became completely orphaned at the age of 12. Márton Vécsei uses daguerreotype pictures to freeze the time and show important moments of Radnóti's childhood solitude. The short is based on a prose work called Mont of Gemini.
Private Maths recalls the story of Radnóti's first love and later wife entering into his life. They had met in a private mathematics class and fell in love with each other. Nine years later they became married. The short is based on a short story The Poet and the Woman.
The Willow is a puppet animation short that is inspired by Radnóti's university years where his mentor, Sándor Sík influenced him on literature and religion. The original piece is a short story The Tale of the Weeping Willow talks about the otherness and solitude.
Holy Night reflects on a 3rd generation Hungarian Jewish young man's experience with identity and religion or the lack of it. Secular Jews like our hero get to know about their Jewish roots accidentally and the film shows the essence of an absurd experience that culminates in a house party on Christmas night. Radnóti converted to Catholicism in 1943, the religious duality characterized his entire life. The short is based on parts from his diary.
FAM is an animation short that tells the story of the first human and the creation of the world. This piece connects abstractly to Radnóti's life rather than reflecting on his work. Radnóti was deeply influenced by African arts and literature through his first trip to Paris in 1931. His translations of Tale about the Beginning of the World were published in 1944 in a volume entitled Karunga, the Lord of the Dead.
I don't Know is a documentary that shows everyday Hungarians how they reflect on Radnóti, what they would tell him, message to him about their lives and challenges. Radnóti always considered himself as a Hungarian poet, the mother country and his home was always very important for him and the world famous poem I don't Know recalls his emotions in everyone.
Patience that Blossoms into Death is an abstract storytelling of Radnóti's labour service and death. Sparow's aim was to show an emotion where time and reality are so mixed already that only memories stick. The film is based on the poems of the Camp Notebook, the last piece that preserved.
