The National Film Institute Hungary is hosting the 8th Budapest Classics Film Marathon from September 16 to 21, featuring a special section titled "Fantastic Women from the Orient" that highlights remarkable female personalities both in front of and behind the camera. This year's program includes two significant Korean films that showcase the work of pioneering female filmmakers from the post-Korean War era.
The festival will screen "Madame Freedom" (1956), directed by Han Hyeong-mo, on September 18 with original Korean audio and both Hungarian and English subtitles. This groundbreaking film represents South Korea's first female director's only feature-length work, created shortly after the Korean War ended. The movie offers a sharp critique of the traditional societal roles assigned to women during a period of significant social change in Korean society.
Another Korean classic, "The Widow" (1955), directed by Park Nam-ok, will be presented twice during the festival on September 16 and 21, also with original sound and dual subtitles in Hungarian and English. This film explores similar themes and dilemmas faced by women in 1950s Korea, providing audiences with insight into the challenges and expectations placed on Korean women during the post-war reconstruction period.
Both films have been provided by the Korean Film Archive, ensuring authentic presentations of these important cinematic works. The "Fantastic Women from the Orient" section demonstrates the festival's commitment to showcasing not only compelling female characters in films but also celebrating the often-overlooked contributions of women filmmakers from Asian cinema.
Ticket information and additional details about the 8th Budapest Classics Film Marathon are available on the National Film Institute Hungary's official website. The festival continues to serve as an important platform for introducing European audiences to classic Asian cinema and highlighting the historical significance of female filmmakers in Korean cinema history.
