Csontváry

Hungarian film " Csontváry " is about the eponymous artist who gave a new direction to art in Hungary. As it is not a direct biography, what makes this Zoltan Huszarik film special is its insistence on separating the life of an artist as merely an artist from that of a human being. This aspect is depicted by showing Csontváry at his creative best as well as by his being with his family and friends. This film reveals many fascinating aspects of Tivadar Kosztka Csontváry's life especially his emotional turmoil as an artist. Watching this film, one invariably gets the feeling that the turmoil and trauma to which Csontváry was subjected also became an integral part of actor Zoltan Latinovits' life as he died after this film. It is to his memory that this film is dedicated. This film also helps us to learn about art and artists whose objective is to find 'god' through their art. Although it did not have any overt political message, Csontváry did manage to portray the cause of 'socialism' in one of its scenes. Lastly, Csontváry is a film for all cinema and art lovers who wish to learn more about one of Hungarian art's greatest personalities.

I walked into this movie as part of a Hungarian film series years ago and the only thing I knew about it was that the title must be a proper name since the rest of the titles were given in English. It unfolded as a singularly impressive presentation, immensely compelling even if not entirely comprehensible. Produced in the same year as its American cousin "All That Jazz" it presents two stories dealing with both artistic and personal issues of artists. As I eventually found out, Csontvary Kostka Tivadar was a Hungarian painter, and the actor Latinovitsj Zoltan, who was originally slated to play him in the film, committed suicide during the preliminary planning. The movie incorporates both the stories of both by way of a dazzling series of dazzling images incorporating Grecian, Roman, Jewish, Christian, and possibly more traditions of splendor along the way. It features one of the most pungent alienation sequences I've ever seen on film, and also lends an awesome splendor to the artistic calling which is reassuring in a world where this is often swamped and demeaned by commercialism. A great film, highly recommended.