Movie Monday

January 14 at 2 p.m. at JCC

"1945"

 

"1945" a 2017 Hungarian drama and top critic award winner is our January Movie Monday film. 

 

Based on the acclaimed short story "Homecoming" by Gábor T. Szántó. On a summer day in 1945, an Orthodox man and his grown 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 the men may be heirs of the village's deported Jews and expects them to demand their illegally acquired property back.

Director Ferenc 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 an eloquent drama that reiterates Thomas Wolfe's famed sentiment: you can't go home again.

The film is 91 minutes in Hungarian with English subtitles. Come check out the film that was a top pick in last year's Jewish film festivals across the world!