Imre Mazlo
Your project takes a part in our festival. What is your project about?
This is a 30 minute story of the last First Secretary of the Hungarian People's Republic. He is not a person driven by some lofty interest but by a far worse and most evil force. Money, greed for power, untouchability, stupidity and materialism. I believe there are people around having always respected all the ten commandments without failure in their lives, but I have never ever met one like that. We are not without sins, but we must strive for the good. My film demonstrates how easy it is to make mistakes one after the other, and even in one morning break all the fundemantals that make a person human.
I would like to open the eyes of many people towards those who, because of some idea or some selfish reasons devote their possible salvation for the sake of a better eartlhly life. I think there is a kind of self sacrifice arising from human ignorance combined with some false sense of untouchability, thereby distorting the judgement of strong, upright people. I am convinced that holy people do not sacrifice the salvation of their souls, they are good because they obey God's rules and laws, since they want to get to heaven. We can say they are driven by self interest. On the contrary, those who, such as criminals and politicians, throw away the eternal orders in the hope of earthly prosperity. Here, too, we can distinguish between two types of criminals and politicians. The good criminal, so to speak, breaks God's commandments in order to help those in need, like some kind of Robin Hood. He takes it from the rich and gives it to the poor, knowing that he will most likely not go to heaven because of it. Despite everything, he accepts the punishment after life on earth. The evilish one only looks at the well-being of himself and his immediate environment. A good politician chooses the wrong path because he has sworn to protect his state and its people. Therefore, if necessary, he starts a war, lies, even kills. But my main character in my short film is the last General Secretary of the former Hungarian People's Republic, who isn't led by any supreme interests but by a much worse and more evil force: the money, the greed of power, the human stupidity and materialism. I believe, that there are some people, who have been keeping all the 10 commandments of God in their whole life but I've never met one of them. My film also tries to show, how simply people can make mistakes again and again, and therefore how easily they can break even in a morning all of the fundamentals, wich mostly define the human-being.
What were your requirements for actors to take a part of your film?
There were certain human traits that I thought a character like Peter should play. A younger actor could not have played this so well. It was important to bring the style features that we identify with, e.g. the dictators. He was very easy to work with. At every moment he delivered what I asked of him.
How did you communicate with the cameraman? What locations did you choose for your project? And why?
Based on my experience so far, it was the easiest shoot. I worked with a very small, but all the more professional crew. Everyone was touched by the film's message for the first time. It is not visible in the recording, but the one apartment in which we see the actions was recorded in four locations and no rent was charged for any of them. Perhaps the most surprising thing was that when they heard the story, no one wanted to make a quick buck out of it.
Why should distributors buy your film?
Because it conveys something that many people have already tried to "shove" down people's throats - with more or less success - but perhaps in this form the story is even more original and contemporary. In the past, opening up a set of problems that still exists now in the light of the universal commandments was a suitable challenge and I feel that it achieved the expected result.
What expression elements did you use in your project? How would you characterize your work?
Based on a very sharp script, it is a tragedy saturated with humor, which, depending on its possibilities and limits, can even be a "guidance" for life with some grandeur.
At what festivals have you had success? Has the film already premiered? If so, where?
To be honest, we have won in so many places that it would be difficult to list them all. We have dozens of wins for Best Film or Best Director. The film has not been premiered yet.
What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
To bring truths to people and give them hope for good.
Which movies are your favorites? And why?
Difficult question, there are many... but perhaps P.G.: The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, then Rosencranz and Guildenstern are Dead, Adrian Lyne: Jacob's Ladder, Stanley Kubrick: Pahts of Glory: Paths of Glory
What topics do you like to deal with in your work?
This is not an easy question either, because if someone is open to the world, a bunch of topics will come back to him. But, if I had to choose, perhaps I can't stand human stupidity, malice and insatiability at all, so I like topics against them the most. But I am equally interested in criminal matters and political topics.
What project would you like to shoot one day, what would it be about?
I would like to bring a true story set in the 1950s to the screen. Full of unimaginable action, an explanation that only life can produce.
This is a 30 minute story of the last First Secretary of the Hungarian People's Republic. He is not a person driven by some lofty interest but by a far worse and most evil force. Money, greed for power, untouchability, stupidity and materialism. I believe there are people around having always respected all the ten commandments without failure in their lives, but I have never ever met one like that. We are not without sins, but we must strive for the good. My film demonstrates how easy it is to make mistakes one after the other, and even in one morning break all the fundemantals that make a person human.
I would like to open the eyes of many people towards those who, because of some idea or some selfish reasons devote their possible salvation for the sake of a better eartlhly life. I think there is a kind of self sacrifice arising from human ignorance combined with some false sense of untouchability, thereby distorting the judgement of strong, upright people. I am convinced that holy people do not sacrifice the salvation of their souls, they are good because they obey God's rules and laws, since they want to get to heaven. We can say they are driven by self interest. On the contrary, those who, such as criminals and politicians, throw away the eternal orders in the hope of earthly prosperity. Here, too, we can distinguish between two types of criminals and politicians. The good criminal, so to speak, breaks God's commandments in order to help those in need, like some kind of Robin Hood. He takes it from the rich and gives it to the poor, knowing that he will most likely not go to heaven because of it. Despite everything, he accepts the punishment after life on earth. The evilish one only looks at the well-being of himself and his immediate environment. A good politician chooses the wrong path because he has sworn to protect his state and its people. Therefore, if necessary, he starts a war, lies, even kills. But my main character in my short film is the last General Secretary of the former Hungarian People's Republic, who isn't led by any supreme interests but by a much worse and more evil force: the money, the greed of power, the human stupidity and materialism. I believe, that there are some people, who have been keeping all the 10 commandments of God in their whole life but I've never met one of them. My film also tries to show, how simply people can make mistakes again and again, and therefore how easily they can break even in a morning all of the fundamentals, wich mostly define the human-being.
What were your requirements for actors to take a part of your film?
There were certain human traits that I thought a character like Peter should play. A younger actor could not have played this so well. It was important to bring the style features that we identify with, e.g. the dictators. He was very easy to work with. At every moment he delivered what I asked of him.
How did you communicate with the cameraman? What locations did you choose for your project? And why?
Based on my experience so far, it was the easiest shoot. I worked with a very small, but all the more professional crew. Everyone was touched by the film's message for the first time. It is not visible in the recording, but the one apartment in which we see the actions was recorded in four locations and no rent was charged for any of them. Perhaps the most surprising thing was that when they heard the story, no one wanted to make a quick buck out of it.
Why should distributors buy your film?
Because it conveys something that many people have already tried to "shove" down people's throats - with more or less success - but perhaps in this form the story is even more original and contemporary. In the past, opening up a set of problems that still exists now in the light of the universal commandments was a suitable challenge and I feel that it achieved the expected result.
What expression elements did you use in your project? How would you characterize your work?
Based on a very sharp script, it is a tragedy saturated with humor, which, depending on its possibilities and limits, can even be a "guidance" for life with some grandeur.
At what festivals have you had success? Has the film already premiered? If so, where?
To be honest, we have won in so many places that it would be difficult to list them all. We have dozens of wins for Best Film or Best Director. The film has not been premiered yet.
What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
To bring truths to people and give them hope for good.
Which movies are your favorites? And why?
Difficult question, there are many... but perhaps P.G.: The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, then Rosencranz and Guildenstern are Dead, Adrian Lyne: Jacob's Ladder, Stanley Kubrick: Pahts of Glory: Paths of Glory
What topics do you like to deal with in your work?
This is not an easy question either, because if someone is open to the world, a bunch of topics will come back to him. But, if I had to choose, perhaps I can't stand human stupidity, malice and insatiability at all, so I like topics against them the most. But I am equally interested in criminal matters and political topics.
What project would you like to shoot one day, what would it be about?
I would like to bring a true story set in the 1950s to the screen. Full of unimaginable action, an explanation that only life can produce.