A very cute, well directed and acted Hungarian action/crime/comedy from the '80s of communist Hungary. A story about a stolen museum relic (the madonna), a clumsy cop (András Kern) and a Balaton sailor (István Bujtor), who's a cop, too, but kind of retired and not really aspiring for success as the other one and of course about the lifestyle of people living around the beautiful lake Balaton in those time. Being a Hngarian born in Romania I saw this movie first time in a Romanian Cinema, which was a big deal, it meant a lot for us, for Hungarians living in Romania, as it was shown in the darkest Romanian communist era, when no movies were shown on TV at all, we couldn't hear Hungarian speech on TV or Radio (there was no cable TV or satellite receiver in that time). I remember all the tickets were sold out and we could buy them only on the black market (from gypsies, who bought them for 6 lei (Romanian currency) and sold them for 25 leis each). I loved this movie. And then I saw the movie something like 15 years later on TV in Hungary and I still enjoyed it. You know, it's not comparable to a Hollywood action movie, it certainly has its weaknesses, but it's ours, and we love it. I strongly recommend for Hungarians living abroad.
Review of A Pogány Madonna
