Life on the Hortobagy

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1

For a thousand years the Magyars

have lived on their plains,

guarded by distant mountains.

Through the centuries

they have remained horsemen,

following their ancient callings

hunting, fishing,

and breeding livestock.

This way of life,

shaped by Nature and tradition,

created a rich folk culture.

But in the past century,

agriculture has subdued

their ancient pursuits.

Hunting lands and pastures

have become ploughed fields.

Today, of the endless plains

there are few patches

to remain unaffected, and even

the remotest swathes of land

are crumbling before

the iron of the Tractor.

A thousand-year-old fairytale:

this is Hungary.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

no sooner had we got

acquainted with the tractor,

and the gas drill,

than a new machine,

the film shooting machine,

arrived at the Great Plain.

It was the gentlemen

coming along who brought it.

They spent two summers with us,

from spring to fall.

We played roles forthem, but,

nevertheless, we are no actors,

but herdsmen and peasants.

And we do present ourselves

as what we are.

We have grown fond

of your machine, of the motion

pictures, because it shows

our ranch, our plain, our life

the way they are.

See you soon in the film,

in our beautiful plain,

which is called Hortobgy!

Adapted and directed by

George Michael Hoellering

After the short story The Gloomy

Horse by Zsigmond Moricz

Music:
Lszl Lajtha

Camera:
Lszl Schiffer

Sound:
Ferenc Lohr

With the

Budapest Concert Orchestra

conducted by Viktor Vaszy

The folk songs were collected by

Lszl Lajtha.

Produced in Hunnia Film Factory

Tobis Klangfilm system

Copy by Kovcs and Faludi

Production Hllering-Film

Jnos Czinege plays Jnos Czinege,

a head csikos

Mrs. Jnosn Czinege plays

Jnos Czinege's wife

lstvn Knysi plays Jancsi,

Czinege's son

Margit Szincsk plays Juliska,

Czinege's daughter

Mihly Nagy plays Mihly,

Czinege's csikos

Jnos Srkny plays lmre,

Czinege's ranchman

lstvn Veress plays Pista,

the rich peasant boy

lmre Kovcs plays lmre Kovcs,

an old head csikos

Mrs. lmrn Kovcs plays

widow Srknyn

Lajos Kelemen plays the mechanic

Get back, this is the boundary.

Your machine has taken away

enough from us already.

The rain has blurred the sign.

I could not see it.

Get away and open your eyes,

or else you'll get a whipping.

- Good morning, Mr. Mechanic!

- Hi, Jancsi!

- Will you find gas today'?

- I hope so.

- How much more iron pieces'?

- Three will do.

Jancsi, your father is just

mounting the horse at the ranch.

I must go with him to

the village and to the market.

Hurry up, or he kills me

if he finds you here.

Iam going. Give me

some tools for my bicycle,

because it needs mending.

Here you are.

- Thank you.

- Farewell!

Should Jancsi follow you'?

To the devil with him,

a csikos must be punctual.

- Where is father'?

- He is gone to the village.

- Give me my boots.

- You don't need them.

Your father took Mihly.

- And what about me'? - He said

you should go to the devil.

Iwill rather mend my bicycle.

The herdsmen from the

Hortobgy are here!

Bring the horses

to the breeding place.

Not ready for the market yet'?

Yes, Jnos, we'll come at once.

Make yourself pretty!

Pista is coming from Debrecen.

I don't want him, father.

Where is Jancsi'?

- The kid wasn't there, when

I left. - Have a drink, Jnos.

- Who has come with you, father'?

- Mihly.

Get Mihly out of your head.

Pista is the one for you.

I will not have the conceited fool.

L'll decide that.

/n Ho/Tobg y the violet

is in fu// bloom

The cattle grazes happily

in its blue...

Its herdsman drinks

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