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A murder is revealed during the private investigation of a journalist. Prestigious economic and political people of a small town gather for a name-day celebration in a luxury villa. Everything starts as usual, but this time an incident disrupts the stag party. Andrea Bíró, accompanied by a friend, announces to her father, the director of the Ironworks, that she is leaving home. Bíró, enraged, shoots the boy with a hunting rifle. Those present claim it was an accident. Despite obstacles and death threats, Luca Péteri, a journalist for the local newspaper, starts investigating the case.

A great Hungarian political drama/thriller from the era of goulash communism

Fábri Zoltán was a wonderful Hungarian filmmaker and this film (his last), that made its way to Hungarian cinemas in April 1984, is probably my favourite from his catalogue. If one wanted to understand how Hungarian society worked in the 1970s, during the era of velvet dictatorship, Gyertek el a névnapomra (Housewarming) is one of the films I would definitely recommend watching.<br/><br/>It is a superbly acted, suspenseful political thriller (at times somewhat reminiscent of such more recent movies as Michael Clayton or Erin Brockovich) told through both straight narrative and documentary-like witness testimonies. The elite of a country town are having a celebration in a luxury villa when an incident (resulting in an injury) disturbs the party. A journalist of the local newspaper investigates the case but she meets considerable obstacles, pressure and threats.<br/><br/>Fábri perfectly captures the atmosphere of the era and paints an accurate picture of its morals. Western viewers might be surprised to find how the behaviour of people wielding political power transcends history and geography. The issues presented here are indeed familiar across all borders and remain painfully relevant to this day.

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Gyertek el a névnapomra

Quite enjoyable TV movie from the era when Hungary could afford making quality TV films in terms of money and talent. It&#39;s almost the literal implementation of the short story it is based on. Quite brave and nicely reflects the age it is about and was made in. Great actors (esp Kállay and Haumann, but Mácsai is surprisingly bad, I hear, he himself did not like it very much :), good director and pictures, but lousy music. Its 70s slang sounds a bit odd today, I think. Not my favourite but I come back to watching it every three years or so. Whatever happened to this articulated film-making in Hungary, though?

User reviews

Gyertek el a névnapomra

A great Hungarian political drama/thriller from the era of goulash communism

Well-made TV movie

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