II. Budapest Classic Film Marathon: The Magic Flute

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Cinematographer: Sven Nykvist 
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Cast: Josef Köstlinger, Irma Urrila, Håkan Hagegård, Elisabeth Erikson, Britt-Marie Aruhn, Kirsten Vaupel

Before the screening, Katinka Faragó, Bergman's colleague and producer, and film director István Szabó will talk about Ingmar Bergman. The language of the approx 45 minute long podium discussion will be English (with simultaneous translation into Hungarian). The Magic Flute will be screened with one intermission.

Mozart, and the Mozart opera The Magic Flute, must have been close to Ingmar Bergman, a significant artist both as novelist and theatre director, because Bergman read this work as the fulfilment of Humanism. There can be no doubt that in this opera of initiation, the appearance of the ideals and symbols of Freemasonry reinforces that it can be read and directed as the opera of victory of light over darkness. As a consequence, Bergman’s direction is most sanguine. In the first few minutes it is apparent what effect Mozart has on audiences. Pleasure radiates from the faces of those listening to the overture with closed eyes. The same is true for everyone else on seeing this opera film most charming in some of the scenes, as the singer who plays Sarastro reads Parsifal in the interval.

Ticket information

Ticket price: 1800 HUF
Tickets are available at the Cassa of the Urania National Film Theatre (open every day 10:30-21:00, Credit Cards are accepted) and in the Ticket Sale System of Interticket (available in English too).