Angyali üdvözlet, aka "The Annunciation", is a surreal account of the history of humanity as portrayed entirely by children between the ages of 8 and 12. The film begins with the biblical story as Adam (Péter Bocsor) and Eve (Júlia Mérö), are deceived by Lucifer (Eszter Gyalog) -- three very photogenic leads -- into tasting the "Forbidden Fruit". They are thus chased out of the Garden of Eden by the Angel of Death and, in a vision, sent on an existential journey through western European history.
Always followed closely and influenced by the deceptively sweet, but contemptuous Lucifer, we follow Adam through The Plague, wars, Byzantium's wretched cripples, the French Revolution, the squalor of Dickensian London, and a final return to the scene of the crucifixion. Of course the picture makes a case for its premise -- that of the consequences of Original Sin -- yet does so in a very unique way. In the closing scene, Lucifer says, "Why did I strive to achieve greatness in man, who is...in knowlege a pygmy, in blindness a giant?" This reflects the somewhat nihilistic view of a nation still under the boot of Soviet communism.
This rare movie may be one of the best (and only child-starred) art films ever.
Director: András Jeles.
Cast: Peter Bocsor, Julia Mero, Eszter Gyalog, Gyorgy Belme, Robert Borok, Attila Dobay, Evelin Feher, Reka Gevai, Ferenc Foltanyi, Mariann Kaposi, Laszlo Jenei, Monika Olah, Katalin Kohler, Attila Racz, Andras Papp Takacs.
Hungary, 1984.
Subtitles: English.
Download Angyali üdvözlet / The Annunciation.