A Pogány Madonna

Pogány Madonna is one of my ever favourite films, not only because it comes from my native country, but also because it's a terrific comedy. Set at Lake Balaton, at the popular resort districts of Balatonfüred and Tihany, this film features the classic Laurel-Hardy pair with two detectives: the gawky Dr.Kardos, played by one of the best contemporary Hungarian actors, András Kern, and the sailing maniac Csöpi (István Bujtor) who solves all the cases for his colleague. Set around the stealing of a museum relic, incorporating lots of sailing scenes on "the Hungarian sea", this film was a highly popular one in the early eighties when I was a child, as is still one ever since.

A very cute, well directed and acted Hungarian action/crime/comedy from the '80s of communist Hungary. A story about a stolen museum relic (the madonna), a clumsy cop (András Kern) and a Balaton sailor (István Bujtor), who's a cop, too, but kind of retired and not really aspiring for success as the other one and of course about the lifestyle of people living around the beautiful lake Balaton in those time. Being a Hngarian born in Romania I saw this movie first time in a Romanian Cinema, which was a big deal, it meant a lot for us, for Hungarians living in Romania, as it was shown in the darkest Romanian communist era, when no movies were shown on TV at all, we couldn't hear Hungarian speech on TV or Radio (there was no cable TV or satellite receiver in that time). I remember all the tickets were sold out and we could buy them only on the black market (from gypsies, who bought them for 6 lei (Romanian currency) and sold them for 25 leis each). I loved this movie. And then I saw the movie something like 15 years later on TV in Hungary and I still enjoyed it. You know, it's not comparable to a Hollywood action movie, it certainly has its weaknesses, but it's ours, and we love it. I strongly recommend for Hungarians living abroad.

A Pogány Madonna is the first – and the best – part of a series called Bujtor-movies. (Csak semmi pánik… 1982; Az elvarázsolt dollár,1985; Hamis a baba,1991) These films tried to copy the Bud Spencer movies which were very popular in the 80's in our country. (They are popular present days, too. The commercial TV-channels continuously broadcast different films of the Spencer-Hill twin.) These films didn't managed very well as copies but I think „they works". They reflect the feeling of the Hungarian 80's. When I watch one of them I always think of my childhood. (A Pogány Madonna is a special favourite of me, because it produced in my birth-year, 1980.) I remember almost all parts of the sequences: the old-fashioned cars, the „retro" clothes and furniture make you feel a kind of nostalgia. The skits and dialogues seem sometimes childish but they fit into the hilarious atmosphere of the film. The characters and the jokes are too weak and forced, but the actors participated in the film were – and are nowadays as well – the most employed Hungarian actors. In my opinion these actors and actresses knew they work. (Think of Judit Hernádi as the fast wife Mrs Vályi, Miklós Benedek as the „I'm very happy" P. Smith, László Bánhidi as the „secret link" Uncle Matuska and at last but no least in the main roles: István Bujtor as Csöpi Ötvös and András Kern as Dr. Kardos. Not only the things mentioned above but the music of Pogány Madonna imitate the feeling of the Italian Piedone-movies as well. Apart from its weaknesses this film is worth watching, it offers good entertainment for everybody and makes you relive those beautiful moments, jokes, happenings of the 80's. I gave 8 from 10. Watch it, and tell your critics!