Hungarian Streaming?
If someone tunes into the programming of Hungary’s public television Channel 1 without knowing the political background, they might be surprised to find Hungarian films and television dramas dominating the schedule, as if the public broadcaster had turned into a uniquely Hungarian streaming service.
I will not discuss the political background here, as this is a cultural article.
Just one observation: culture can never be completely separated from politics (unfortunately), because art often draws on current events, constantly confronting us with both our past and our present. But when cultural institutions, theatres, newspapers, or media outlets suddenly begin to convey one-sided messages, they betray the fundamental values of universal culture.
This is what happened to the former public-service news channel, which explains the sudden change in programming. We hope the new government will make genuine efforts to restore true public-service broadcasting, although many of us would happily continue watching classic Hungarian films and television dramas on this channel.
But let us turn to culture itself.
Hungarian filmmaking is more than a century old.
Its history can be divided into several distinct periods. Before 1945, films were primarily created to entertain audiences. Renowned playwrights wrote the screenplays, a genuine star system emerged, and this was also the period when theatre and cinema became distinct art forms. It was not uncommon for a celebrated stage actor to appear somewhat stiff or theatrical on screen.
Unfortunately, technology preserved very few stage performances from that era. The surviving films also reflect the directing style of their time, when actors had relatively little freedom to incorporate elements of their own performance into their roles.
Even so, these films remain remarkably popular today. There is something deeply satisfying about watching them again, recognising the great actors of the era, and spotting the many memorable cameo appearances of the wonderfully named Szőke Szakáll.
The next major period was roughly between 1948 and 1958, when films primarily served as instruments of propaganda—sometimes openly, sometimes in more subtle forms.
For me, the most significant era spans the years between 1970 and 1990. Cultural restrictions gradually eased, and despite tight political control, an impressive number of outstanding films were produced.
This was also the golden age of Hungarian Television.
Prime time featured countless original television dramas. Theatre performances were regularly broadcast, often from provincial theatres that had previously been little known outside their own regions. Opera and operetta adaptations, as well as successful feature films, also became regular parts of the schedule.
It is thanks to this rich film and television heritage that today’s viewers can enjoy the diverse, entertaining, and often thought-provoking programming now shown in place of the former news channel.
It reminds us that the distortion of culture cannot continue indefinitely. Technological progress helps preserve and revive our past, and without understanding that past, we cannot truly plan our future.
By: Viktor Szentkiralyi