Jancsó’s recurring interest in Jewish culture is one aspect of his work that has consistently been overlooked by most critics?including Hungarian ones. György Báron reflects on the director’s hitherto unrecognised obsession.
“Jewish themes”? Let’s put the term in quotes, because what would count as a “theme”? The Hungarian-themed Szegénylegények (The Round Up, 1965)? The Russian (Soviet) Csillagosok katonák (Red and the White, 1967)? The Italian La Pacifista (1970)? If we discuss detention camps, is that a “Jewish theme”? Or what about the love of two Israeli citizens? And are these films actually about what?per se?their theme is?
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