Torn from the Flag: A Film by Klaudia Kovacs

Dear Klaudia,

My husband, my son, and I all have the same opinion regarding your TORN FROM THE FLAG documentary film. It gives a very truthful and artistic reflection of the 1956 Revolution.It does not take any side of the parties involved and does not exaggerate the different situations. It looks at things with objectivity and shows the causes of the revolution, the ensuing suppression, and the eventual victory in the long run. To make this film, which was an enormous task considering all the obstacles, took a lot of courage on your part, but you made it a success. For all of us who lived through the brutality of the dictatorial regime and then the Revolution, the film gives back the sad and the short-lived happy memories of that time. For today's generation the film gives a chance and warning to love and protect freedom and democracy. We wish that with your talent you have the opportunity do many many more good and valuable projects.

Susan Dobay

Torn from the Flag is a true eye-opener on international policies. It gives you a very thorough understanding of the history surrounding the Cold War Era and the ideology of communism with touching and moving testimonies from several interesting interviewees. It shows us the unforeseen consequences of Western good intent and propaganda espousing democracy and freedom without the necessary follow-through - like our current situation in the Middle East. Director Klaudia Kovacs' courageous and exciting film examines these important matters through her young, compassionate, non-judgmental, brilliant eye. I highly recommend it to all viewers interested in international, social, and/or human-rights issues.

Torn from the Flag - How can I convey in words the emotion I felt and the education I received watching this documentary and do it justice?

This documentary film shows the dramatic events which led to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and consequently the collapse of the USSR Communist state decades later. The producers interviewed several actual Freedom Fighters and other participants with various points of view, so Torn from the Flag is not a mere repetition of the same news stories of the Hungarian Revolution we have heard many times before. In fact, in 90 minutes, the audience is shocked, brought to tears, witnesses the bloody struggle and the apparent short-lived victory which was achieved by the Freedom Fighters. Days later, the Hungarians' joy of freedom and hope for independence was brutally crushed by a merciless, overbearing dictatorial superpower, which was followed by severe retribution by the new communist government. Desperation replaced hope in Hungary, and the world stood by and did nothing. Why did the free world allow this suppression of liberty?

This story must be told and kept alive so that current generations better understand what occurred and future generations do not forget this struggle for freedom.

Thank you, Ms.Kovacs and company for this valiant production!

I have just seen this movie and I want to see it again and again. If there is one fault with it, its the fact that Hules tried to squeeze too much into too little. Granted, he's got a lot to say, but I could just as well imagine this film as a mini-series. And that's because, like with a good book, you just want to read on and on. Ninety-some minutes are simply not enough. It leaves you hunger for more. That, I suppose is the intentional genius of writer-director Hules, who even, as far as I know, had the pleasure of editing 900 hours of footage into this piece. The miracle is that the movie is still coherent and understandable to everyone, even if you were born decades after the events, on a different continent. I recommend you see it, but I'm warning you that you'll actually need to pay very close attention all the way through! Bring your brain, and, as another reviewer suggested, also bring tissue.

For anyone who doubts the evil barbarity of communism they should see Torn from the Flag, an excellent documentary that begins with the defeat of Nazi Fascism, the initial euphoria of Soviet "liberation", followed by the brutal oppression of the Hungarian people which led to the primary focus of the film the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. The film uses "never- before-seen-in-the west" footage filmed during the 1956 revolution by award winning cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond. From my knowledge and reading of history, the documentary is historically correct and the writers took great pains to interview a wide spectrum of diplomats, freedom fighters, Russian and Hungarian soldiers, members of the police and AVO. They weave the testimonies, the actual footage and archival material into an accurate portrayal of history. The documentary runs for 91 minutes and is scored with 80 minutes of music. I highly recommend it to all.