Film Archive

The Door

Special Events 2012 / The Door / Hungary, Germany 2012

Successful writer Magda hires a housekeeper, elderly neighbor Emerenc Sherdás, to clean her elegant home. Thanks to the perfect, old-fashioned service, Magda is willing to overlook Emerenc’s odd behavior. What is she hiding about her past? And why does she refuse even a peek to the woman who is closest to her – her employer, whose authorial fantasy is beginning to get the better of her? For his splendidly staged psychological drama set in the 60s, István Szabó offered an outstanding acting opportunity to British actress Helen Mirren.

Synopsis

Successful writer Magda hires a housekeeper, elderly neighbor Emerenc Sherdás, to clean her elegant home. Unlike her husband, Magda is willing to overlook the woman’s odd behavior: spotless collars and tablecloths as white as alabaster allow her to ignore questions provoked by Emerenc’s secretive existence. Why, for example, is she afraid of storms? Why is she so anxiously obsessive about order? Why does she lead such a lonely life? What is she hiding about her past? She refuses even a peek to the person closest to her – her employer, Magda, whose professional imagination is beginning to get the better of her.... István Szabó based his splendidly staged psychological drama on the novel by compatriot Magda Szabó (no relation). The outstanding roles in this stylish, 1960s-set movie were given to British actress Helen Mirren and her German colleague Martina Gedeck.

About the film

97 min / Color, 35 mm

Director István Szabó / Screenplay István Szabó, Andrea Vészits podle románu / based on the novel by Magda Szabó / Dir. of Photography Elemér Ragályi / Music Robert Schumann, István Loránd / Editor Réka Lemhényi / Producer Jenő Hábermann, Sándor Sőth / Production Film Art KFT / Cast Helen Mirren, Martina Gedeck, Károly Eperjes, Gábor Koncz, Enikő Börcsök, Ági Szirtes / Contact Bankside Films, Magic Box - division Bioscop / Distributor Magic Box - division Bioscop

About the director

István Szabó (b. 1938, Budapest) is one of the best- known European directors. He finished his studies at the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest with the short film Concert (1961), awarded at the 1963 Cannes IFF. There, another short film, You (1963), hit the mark as well. Other noteworthy titles include: Father (Apa, 1966), 25 Fireman’s Street (Tüzoltó utca 25, 1973 – Golden Leopard at the Locarno IFF), Confidence (Bizalom, 1979 – Silver Bear at the Berlin IFF), Mephisto (1981 – Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Jury Prize at the Cannes IFF, among others), Colonel Redl (Redl ezredes, 1984 – Jury Prize at the Cannes IFF), Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe (Edes Emma, drága Böbe, 1991 – Silver Bear at the Berlin IFF), and Sunshine (1999 – European Film Award for Best Screenplay). He was president of the main jury at last year’s KVIFF.

Contacts

Bankside Films
12 Great Portland street, W1W 8QN, London
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 207 636 6085
E-mail: [email protected]

Magic Box - division Bioscop
Na Klikovce 7, 140 00, Praha 4
Czech Republic
Phone: +420 221 436 255
Fax: +420 221 436 305
E-mail: [email protected]