After a long silence several of György Kovásznai?s short films and his all-night animation film Foambath were projected again on 28th October 2007 on World Animation Day. You could find a detailed programme on the website manifeszt.hu.
In the special hall of Uránia Cinema there were 2 projections with lots of 20-year-old visitors. The expectations of the organizers concerning the all-night animation film Foambath (1979) were fulfilled, as its humour was fully understood by the audience, unlike at the premiere in 1980, when ? to say the least ? success failed. It seems that at the time the much respected audience did not expect an animation film like this. They did not understand the lack of surprises in the scenario or the psychedelic madness in the epicenter of the film. Is it possible that the exalted atmosphere of Foambath seems more natural today? Is young audience today more open to the alternative voices from the end of the 70?s? One thing is for sure: Kovásznai seems to be more up-to-date today than ever.
Regarding the projection of Foambath in October, Olivér Horváth?s (student at MOME) article, titled A fortaste of psychedelic sociography can be read here.
We wish we could show Foambath here, but that would require a projection room and 80 minutes.
Instead, let another film be here, which was the first big scandal in Kovásznai?s life.t.
The short film titled Guitarist Boy at the Old Gallery was made in 1964, at the beginning of Kovásznai?s career with the assistance of painter Dezső Korniss. It was the only film in the history of Pannonia Film Studio that was prohibited by Comrade Aczél; thus, it was only shown in 1988 for the first time. If there were FAQs (frequently asked questions) on this website, we should add ?What was regarded as improper about this film??. In fact, for younger generations it is completely incomprehensible as we cannot see any clear political symbols or allusions which would provoke the public against the system. What was it that Comrade Aczél considered dangerous in it? The naked woman? (Come on. Evil to him who evil thinks.) In the Research Centre the official correspondence regarding this has not been found (if there was any at all), but considering reports we can assume that modernist/avantgarde film language together with a classical picture collection conjuring up the world before socialism blew the fuse with style dictators.