Himmelhohes Gras

Uncle Poldi is an old park warden who is going to be retired in 5 days. He worked 52 years in the park and is always saying: "I will only miss that beautiful green lawn there!" Misu, a small boy in the house, wants to make his old friend happy and to organize of laying lawn tiles into the yard of the house. To do this, first all the residents of the house have to sign a petition, then the petition has to be brought to an office where the director has to sign it. One of the residents, Miss Kamilla, does not want to sign the petition. Misu and his friends, Mrs. Poldi and uncle Dezső, have to convince Miss Kamilla to sign it. They do finally this with the help of Oszkár the coal man and his mother. Finally all friends in the street help to lay the tiles and uncle Poldi can have the yard with his "beautiful green lawn" for his retirement years. Good movie for children of about 5-7 years and their parents.

After 30 years, the film is so crappy. Although it definitely has its own charm and also shows still existing problems of Hungarian society. For instance: hard office administration, incompetent traffic rules, old people's social isolation. Unfortunately, these symptoms haven't got better in the last three decades, regardless of brand of police cars. Tought today nobody keeps her child behind bars, at least.

Otherwise, does Dezső bácsi really say in the 35th minute (in the scene when Kamilla and Piroska has arrived to Oszkár's mother's "modern" flat): "Hú, a picsába"?! Am I wrong, or it couldn't be cut out? :)

And did you noticed: Dezső bácsi (Máriáss József) is the same actor, who played Bőhm apó's role in Szomszédok?

I do not know why, after so many decades, I remain fan of this children film. nostalgia is one of the motifs, like the impression of return to childhood. but , in same measure, important is the portrait of small universe under the Communism. the critic of social/bureaucratic aspects as a form ( obvious fake ) of resistance. the kind, generous, smart kid, impressed by the case of his old neighbor. the dialogues. and the characters who are descending from the classic children books of the period. the naivety. and the innocence. and, sure, the end. a film about friendship, kind people and noble friendship. so, a lovely one. sure, first for the nostalgia victims.