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Cinematographer Elemér Ragályi, one of the greatest talents of modern Hungarian cinema, died last Thursday.

Ragályi was born in 1939 in Hungary, where he graduated at the Academy of Theater and Film with a degree in cinematography.

As a cinematographer, he worked with directors such as István Gaál, István Szabó Gyula Gazdag, Judit Elek, Pál Sándor and Ferenc András, innovating in order to give a distinctive look to iconic films.

In 1970, Gaál’s “The Falcons” won the Jury Prize of the Cannes Film Festival, in large part thanks to the camerawork of Ragályi.

Elemér Ragályi (Courtesy of Nfi/Magda B. Muller)

In 1990, he received the television prize, the CableACE Award, of the American Society of Cinematographers for the HBO production “The Josephine Baker Story,” starring Lynn Whitfield. He was also nominated for Ace awards for his work on “Max and Helen” and “Red King, White King,” starring Tom Skerritt and Helen Mirren.

Ragalyi worked with filmmakers including Istvan Gaal, Istvan Szabo.

Elemer Ragalyi, the Hungarian cinematographer who worked with directors including Istvan Gaal and Istvan Szabo, died last week on March 30, at the age of 83.

Described by Hungary’s National Film Institute as ‘one of the greatest talents of modern Hungarian cinema’, Ragalyi shot films including Gaal’s Falcons, which won the jury prize at Cannes Film Festival in 1970.

Journey Of Hope, the Swiss feature he shot for director Xavier Koller, won the best foreign language film (now best international feature) Oscar in 1991; while Ragalyi received the Emmy for outstanding cinematography for...