Was made to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of poet
Sándor Petöfi who wrote the original epic poem János Vitéz (John the Valiant) in 1845. Petöfi is considered Hungary's greatest poet and is sometimes called "The Greatest Hungarian", he was a fiercely nationalistic and hopelessly romantic writer as well as a revolutionary fighter who lost his life during the failed uprising against the Hapsburg oppression of 1849. His folktale hero Kukorica Jancsi (Johnny Corncob or Johnny Grain o'Corn) is one of the most significant characters of classic Hungarian literature. Due to the importance of Petöfi's poetry, the movie received considerable political and cultural backing and was met with huge anticipation, especially since the nation's people had begun to lose touch with their cultural roots during the country's Communist rule. Both the poem and this film are regarded as Hungarian cultural milestones.
