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    • NTC Award Ceremony
      New Talent Competition gives young filmmakers from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe the opportunity to present their outstanding debut or second film to the public. Join us on Sunday 1 December at 19h
    • Music at ENFF
      The Eastern Neighbours Film Festival welcomes special musical guests each year to enrich our program. For this 16th edition, we’re thrilled to present two talented young musicians: guitarist Antonio Peršak (CR) and violinist İdil Yunkuş (TR). Together, they will perform a traditional Balkan dance and folk song, highlighting the beauty of this music through the… Read more: Music at ENFF
    • Masterclass with Janez Burger
      This masterclass presents a unique opportunity to explore Burger's distinct storytelling style, genre use, and exploration of contemporary social issues. Join us on Saturday 30 November at 17h - Room 5
    • Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema
      Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema on Friday 29 November at 18h

Sweet Emma, Dear Bobe

DirectorIstvan Szabo
ProducerGabriella Grosz – Objektiv Filmstudio; Manfred Durniok
WriterIstvan Szabo
CameraLajos Koltai
EditorEszter Kovacs
SoundGyorgy Kovacs
CastJohanna Ter Steege, Eniko Borcsok, Peter Andorai, Eva Kerekes, Hedi Temessy, Erzsi Pasztor
Original TitleEDES EMMA, DRAGA BOB – VAZLATOK, AKTOK
Year1992
Length90 min
CountryHungary
SectionClosing Film
Focus: Europe, 30 Years After the Berlin Wall
ScreeningSunday 10 November | 18:45 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag

A must-see classic that was awarded the Silver Bear at the 1992 Berlinale, with a remarkable performance by the Dutch actress Johanna ter Steege. Probably the most improvised film ever made by Istvan Szabo, it was the first to depict the hard changes of the Hungarian society started in 1989. The screening will be followed by Q&A with the actress Johanna ter Steege.

Synopsis

Emma and Bobe came to Budapest from the countryside to teach Russian. The only problem is that Russian is no longer wanted. Russian schoolbooks are burnt, teachers are mocked. Schools now ask for compulsory English, which the two young women never learned. The two girlfriends fall on hard times – Emma becomes a maid while Bobe ends up in prison for illegal money changing and prostitution. Only one will survive.

Festivals & Awards (selection)

Berlin International Film Festival, 1992 – Silver Bear (Special Jury Mention), European Film Award (Best Screenplay), Nominee Best Actress (Johanna Ter Steege) | Association of Polish Filmmakers Critics’ Awards, 1993 – Best Foreign Film | Italian Film Critics’ Award, Rome 1992 – Silver Ribbon

Director’s bio

Oscar-winner István Szabó is the most internationality acclaimed Hungarian filmmaker. Graduating the Hungarian Academy of Theatrical and Cinematic Art in 1957, he was a founding member of the Béla Balázs Stúdió. His first feature film was “Álmodozások kora / The Age of Day-Dreaming”, in 1964. Working in the tradition of European auteurism, most of his 17 films represent many of the historical and psychological conflicts of Central Europe’s recent history, as well as of his own personal history. Besides feature films, he has also directed several poetic films about Budapest (“Budapest”, “Why I Love It”, “1971”). His greatest international success is “Mephisto” which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Besides, three other of his films have been nominated for Oscar – “Confidence”, “Colonel Redl” and “Hanussen”. ”Confidence” also won the Best Director award at the Berlin International Film Festival. His ‘Klaus-Maria Brandauer trilogy’ has won in total almost 40 awards all over the world.