☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The
Red and the White (1967) – M. Jancsó
We never get to know the characters by
name and it is often difficult to discern who is a Bolshevik (Red) and who is
loyal to the Tsar (White). This is Jancsó’s
point. War crimes are committed by those
in power on either side. The film is
largely episodic but the characters that we follow in each episode soon
die. So, this makes war seem futile and
tragic. The use of long shots in
sprawling landscapes further emphasizes the trivial importance of each
life. Yet, the movie can just flow over
you and in 87 minutes it is over. Vaguely,
the role of Hungarians in the conflict (they supported the Communists) can be
noted – but their contribution is even more trivial and they are often told
that they are irrelevant and should leave.
Since this is Jancsó’s putative national affiliation, the pointlessness
of it all is that much greater.
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