Confidence

Haunting, disturbing and somewhat thrilling and erotic drama set in hungary during world war 2. a man and a woman pretend to be husband and wife to escape authorities during world war 2. they have connections to the hungarian resistance. they fall madly in love with each other. i really liked the way the film looked with those grayish ugly rotting city landscapes. the lead pair had some great chemistry. i realized that i had watched another SZABO film called LOVEFILM atleast 20 years ago after i checked his filmography. great background score too.

(8/10)

This was shown as part of a festival of films by Szabo Istvan at the National Gallery of Art Feb-March 08. nga dot gov.Suspense and tension is superbly developed. The ensemble work among actors, director, and cinematographer remind you of the best of Carroll Reed's films. Except they are all better. The male lead must have been the George Clooney of his day in Hungary. What does it mean to trust, surrender, take and give sexual intimacy, and love when you are explicitly denying your identity and suspect what even your love for your spouse? The print was excellent. The English subtitles were projected below the screen. I hope this means a transfer to DVD can be and will be released. I would rent or buy this for at least one more viewing. This is a more personal and affecting film than Szabo's "Sunshine." See it if you have a chance, even before Szabo's other, bigger films. (Colonel Redl, Mephisto, Hanussen.)

"Confidence" (1980) is not a mood-lifter: the streets are empty, the colors are grey, the skies are cloudy, the houses are minimally furnished. But it is a compelling movie, an example of superior filmmaking for adults (it goes deeper than most movies). It is also surprisingly feminist, much of it told from the point-of-view of ldikó Bánsági (a natural beauty); the love scenes are not explicit but sensuous. ***1/2 out of 4.

It's been more than 20 years since I saw this film, and yet still it stays with me. Haunting - probably describes it best. Subtle plot development, beautiful and expert acting, complex characters, and wonderful settings and cinematography made this one of my most memorable film-going experiences. The final scene's emotional impact left me breathless and sobbing. I have been waiting many years to see it again. Will someone PLEASE release it for home viewing!?

Like another reviewer, I saw this haunting, moving film decades ago and have been wanting to see it again ever since. It deals with complex, yet very human questions of love, trust, loyalty, and betrayal under unexpected, trying circumstances. I remember it as being superbly acted and the relationship between the two main characters intimately explored and developed. The ending was heart-wrenching. I am about to go to Transylvania and Budapest, but doubt I could find it there in VHS format, subtitled in English. Does anyone know if it has been subtitled in either Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, or French (which I also read)?