''Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe'' () is a 1992 Hungarian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

co-written and directed by

István Szabó István Szabó (; born 18 February 1938) is a Hungarian film director, screenwriter, and opera director. Szabó is one of the most notable Hungary, Hungarian filmmakers and one who has been best known outside the Hungarian language, Hungarian- ...

. It was entered into the

42nd Berlin International Film Festival The 42nd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 13 to 24 February 1992. The festival opened with '' The Inner Circle'' by Andrei Konchalovsky. The Golden Bear was awarded to American film ''Grand Canyon'' directed by Lawrence K ...

where it won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize. The film was selected as the Hungarian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the

65th Academy Awards The 65th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored films released in 1992 in the United States and took place on March 29, 1993, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles begi ...

, but was not accepted as a nominee.

Plot

After that Russian language had been removed from compulsory subjects of Hungarian schools the two Russian teachers, Emma and Böbe became redundant. The teaching staff also were shaken of insecurity, accusing each other. Emma and Böbe are learning English in the evenings. Emma also sells newspapers and she has an affair with the married school director, who is not too brave to decide. One of the best scenes of the film when Böbe and many naked women - teachers and nurses - are waiting for casting in a film studio. Böbe is acquainted with foreigners and she trades in foreign currencies. Böbe will be arrested and she finally jumps out of the window of the teachers' accommodation.

Cast

* Johanna ter Steege as Emma * Enikö Börcsök as Böbe * Péter Andorai as Stefanics - Director * Éva Kerekes as Szundi * Ildikó Bánsági as Emma (voice) * Irma Patkós as Hermina *

Erzsi Pásztor Erzsi Pásztor (born Erzsébet Pápay; 24 September 1936) is a Hungarian actress. She appeared in more than one hundred films since 1959. Selected filmography References External links * 1936 births Living people Hungarian film act ...

as Rózsa * Hédi Temessy as Mária * Irén Bódis as Emma's mother * Erzsi Gaál as Storekeeper *

Zoltán Mucsi Zoltán Mucsi (born 8 September 1957 in Abony) is a Hungarian actor. He has appeared in more than sixty films since his debut in 1983. Zoltán Mucsi was born in Abony, and in his childhood, he originally wanted to be a footballer. In 1979 he jo ...

as Szilárd, Art teacher *

Tamás Jordán Tamás Jordán (born 15 January 1943) is a Hungarian actor. Jordán appeared in more than ninety films since 1969. Selected filmography References External links * 1943 births Living people Hungarian male film actors 20th-centur ...

as Szaglár Capt. * Gábor Máté as Officer

Analysis and reception

The film shows the political system's changes in

Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...

. "Szabó's sensitive handling of the material culminates in a meditative passage in which Emma stands in church, musing on the 'passion for love' which masks lack of purpose. 'Collective sin' may be dead, according to Böbe, but this movingly delineates the private pain of atonement", commented ''Time Out''.

Awards

*1992 Berlin International Film Festival, Won Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention, Competition- István Szabó *1992 Berlin International Film Festival, Silver Berlin Bear, Special Jury Prize- István Szabó *1992 European Film Award, Best Screenwriter- István Szabó

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sweet Emma Dear Bobe 1992 films 1992 drama films Hungarian drama films 1990s Hungarian-language films Films directed by István Szabó Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize winners Hungarian-language drama films