1945 (2017)
A spare, morally charged Hungarian drama in which two strangers' arrival forces a small town to confront its darkest wartime secrets.
1945 - Movie Information
- Original Title: 1945
- Release Year: 2017
- Directed by: Ferenc Török
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 31m
- Original Language: Hungarian
- Spoken Languages: Russian, Hungarian
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 20, 2017 (Hungary - 12), November 1, 2017 (United States), October 12, 2018 (United Kingdom), May 3, 2018 (Italy), March 16, 2018 (Spain)
- Alternative Titles: Fortyfive (HU)
- Production Companies: Katapult Film
- Production Countries: Hungary
1945 - Plot
An unsettling feeling overwhelms a small Hungarian town when two orthodox Jews arrive with a mysterious trunk. As residents begin to speculate on the purpose of the visit of these two strangers, order starts to crumble in town with some pursuing devious plans and others finding remorse in their hearts.
1945 - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the tension unfold in Ferenc Török's acclaimed drama:
One day for justice
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1945 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Ferenc Török
Main Cast
- Péter Rudolf
- Bence Tasnádi
- Tamás Szabó Kimmel
- Dóra Sztarenki
- Ági Szirtes
- József Szarvas
- Eszter Nagy-Kálózy
- Iván Angelusz
- Marcell Nagy
- István Znamenák
Writers
- Ferenc Török
- Gábor T. Szántó
1945 - FAQs
What is the mysterious trunk about in 1945?
The trunk carried by the two Orthodox Jewish men is never explicitly opened on screen, functioning as a powerful symbol of guilt, memory, and reckoning. Its ambiguity forces the townspeople — and viewers — to confront what was taken from Jewish families during the Holocaust and what can never truly be returned.
Is 1945 based on a true story?
1945 is not based on a single true story, but it is adapted from a short story by Gábor T. Szántó titled 'Homecoming.' The film draws on the broader historical reality of Jewish survivors returning to Hungarian villages after World War II, where local residents had often seized Jewish property during the Holocaust.
Where can you stream 1945 online?
1945 is available on Amazon Prime Video, OVID, and the Strand Releasing Amazon Channel via subscription. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Free ad-supported viewing is available on Tubi TV, YouTube Free, and Kanopy.
Why is 1945 filmed in black and white?
Director Ferenc Török and cinematographer Elemér Ragályi chose black and white photography to evoke the visual grammar of 1940s documentary and neorealist cinema, lending the film an archival authenticity. The monochrome palette also strips the story to its moral essentials, amplifying the weight of guilt and silence that pervades the town.
Who are the main actors in 1945?
The principal cast includes Péter Rudolf as town clerk István Szentes, Bence Tasnádi as his son Árpád, Tamás Szabó Kimmel as Jancsi, Dóra Sztarenki as Kisrózsi, Ági Szirtes, József Szarvas, Eszter Nagy-Kálózy as Anna Szentes, Iván Angelusz as Hermann Sámuel, and Marcell Nagy as Hermann's son.
What genre is 1945 and how long is it?
1945 is a drama film. It runs for 91 minutes, making it a tightly focused, single-day narrative that unfolds in real time as two Jewish men walk through a Hungarian village, triggering a cascade of guilt, secrets, and moral crisis among the residents.
Did 1945 receive critical acclaim?
Yes. 1945 earned widespread critical praise for its restrained storytelling, striking black-and-white cinematography, and moral depth. It was Hungary's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and holds a strong approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics lauding its quiet but devastating examination of collective guilt.
What are similar films to 1945?
Viewers who appreciated 1945 may also enjoy On Body and Soul (2017), a fellow Hungarian drama with a similarly introspective tone, as well as The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) and Charlotte (2022), both of which explore memory, loss, and the long shadow of World War II on ordinary communities.
More About 1945
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