Tolerance (1986)
A quietly devastating Hungarian drama about a working-class family torn apart by poverty, imprisonment, and an indifferent bureaucratic system.
Tolerance - Movie Information
- Original Title: Gondviselés
- Release Year: 1986
- Directed by: Pál Erdőss
- Type: Movie
- Runtime: 1h 33m
- Original Language: Hungarian
- Spoken Languages: Hungarian
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 1, 1986 (Hungary)
- Production Companies: Budapest Filmstúdió, Mafilm, Magyar Televízió
- Production Countries: Hungary
Tolerance - Plot
The unskilled, jack-of-all-trades András and his wife, Éva are put in jail for serial work-place thefts, -committed in order to try to ensure a normal living standard for his family - and for aggravated assault committed for self-defence, respectively. Their two small children are put in state care, then given to foster parents. András, still in prison, commits everything to help the released Éva get hold of an apartment and get their children back so that when he will have served his term the family could be together again.
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Tolerance - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Pál Erdőss
Main Cast
- Dénes Döbrey
- Erika Ozsda
- József Madaras
- Dénes Ujlaki
- Székely B. Miklós
- János Derzsi
- Éva Szabó
- Zoltán Bezerédi
Writers
- István Kardos
Tolerance - FAQs
What is Tolerance about?
Tolerance follows András and Éva, a working-class Hungarian couple imprisoned for workplace theft and assault. Their children are placed in state care, then with foster parents. While still incarcerated, András works tirelessly to help Éva secure housing and reclaim their children so the family can reunite once he is released.
Who directed the 1986 film Tolerance?
Tolerance was directed by Pál Erdőss, a Hungarian filmmaker known for socially engaged dramas. The film was produced through Budapest Filmstúdió, Mafilm, and Magyar Televízió, and stands as a quietly powerful portrait of working-class hardship in 1980s Hungary.
Who are the main actors in Tolerance?
The film stars Dénes Döbrey as András and Erika Ozsda as Éva, the couple at the heart of the story. The supporting cast includes József Madaras, Dénes Ujlaki, Székely B. Miklós, János Derzsi, Éva Szabó, and Zoltán Bezerédi.
Is Tolerance based on a true story?
Tolerance is not documented as being based on a specific true story, but its screenplay by István Kardos draws heavily on the social realities of working-class life in communist-era Hungary. The film's unflinching portrayal of poverty, imprisonment, and bureaucratic obstacles gives it a deeply authentic, documentary-like quality.
When was Tolerance released?
Tolerance was released on January 1, 1986, in Hungary. The film was produced by Budapest Filmstúdió, Mafilm, and Magyar Televízió, reflecting the collaborative production model common in Hungarian cinema during the socialist period.
How long is the film Tolerance?
Tolerance has a runtime of 93 minutes, or 1 hour and 33 minutes. Within that compact running time, director Pál Erdőss crafts a measured, emotionally resonant narrative about family separation, institutional indifference, and the quiet determination of ordinary people.
What language is Tolerance filmed in?
Tolerance is filmed entirely in Hungarian. It is an original Hungarian-language production, set and produced in Hungary, reflecting the social and political landscape of the country during the mid-1980s under the late socialist regime.
Why does András commit theft in Tolerance?
In Tolerance, András steals from his workplace not out of greed but out of desperation — to provide his family with a basic standard of living that his unskilled wages cannot afford. The film frames his actions as a moral and social indictment of a system that fails its most vulnerable citizens.
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