FATHER DIARY OF ONE WEEK (USED)

Father (Apa)

Director: István Szabó

About the Movie

Released in 1966, Father (original Hungarian title: Apa) is considered one of the most lyrical and significant films of the Hungarian New Wave.

• The Plot: Set in Budapest following World War II, the story follows a young boy named Tako whose father, a doctor and partisan resistance member, was killed at the end of the war. Tako creates a mythical, heroic fantasy of his father to cope with his loss.

• Themes: The film explores the "insecurity of a fatherless generation" and the struggle to find one's own identity while living in the shadow of a legendary—and partially fabricated—past.

• Historical Context: The narrative weaves personal memories with major historical events, including the Holocaust, the Stalinist era, and the 1956 Hungarian Uprising.

• Accolades: It won the Grand Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival and has been praised for its warmth, intimacy, and poetic nostalgia.