Culture

Detail from "Creating a New Family" (2002). Acrylic on canvas, (42 inches x 54 inches).

Recommended programs in Ottawa: Hungarian Studies conference, Truth and Reconciliation exhibit

The two programs that we’re recommending to our readers this weekend (for those within relatively easy reach of the Canadian capital) are quite different, but they are both relevant in different ways to those interested in Hungary and Hungarian society. First off, the Hungarian Studies Association of Canada (HSAC) is holding its annual conference as part of the Congress of the […]

by · May 28, 2015 · Culture
Prime Minister Orbán and Katinka Hosszú (left).

Katinka Hosszú and the doping allegation

Katinka Hosszú is Hungary’s miracle swimmer – the “Iron Lady.” She is the best all-around swimmer on earth right now, the pride of the Hungarian Swimming Association and personal favorite of sport-crazy Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. She is incredible. When she recently entered the Charlotte Arena Pro Swim Series and raced seven individual events – she won six! Ms. Hosszú […]

by · May 24, 2015 · Culture
László Krasznahorkai and the Booker International Prize

László Krasznahorkai and the Booker International Prize

In June 2012, László Krasznahorkai visited San Francisco, he met his readers at the legendary City Lights bookstore. I arrived late because parking is almost impossible in the North Beach neighborhood where the bookstore is located, and I could barely fight my way into the event. He is almost a cult figure in California literary circles. City Lights is probably […]

by · May 21, 2015 · Culture
A wooden Orthodox church and historic villas in Szovátafürdő/Băile Sovata. Photo: Christopher Adam.

Szováta: a tiny Hungarian resort town nestled in the heart of Transylvania (Photo Report)

I had the chance to visit Szováta, a primarily Hungarian-speaking resort town located in Romania’s Transylvania region, which is an admittedly off-the-beaten track destination for nearly any tourist who isn’t either ethnic Hungarian or Romanian. Most famous for the thermal salt water Bear Lake, or Lacul Ursu/Medve tó, and for its cliffs made of solid salt, the area around the […]

by · May 17, 2015 · Culture
r. Naboulsi explains the secrets of Hungarian cheese making to Foreign Minister, Mr. Szijjártó (with glasses).

Hungarian Kashkaval and the strategy of Eastern opening

If you haven’t tried it yet, you must taste the Hungarian Kashkaval cheese. This delicacy is fabulous! Those of you who don’t know, Kashkaval is a yellowish cheese made of cow or sheep milk, and it is popular in Romania and in the Balkan countries. Also, a favorite treat in the Arab world. Growing up in Hungary, I never heard […]

by · May 9, 2015 · Culture
Sándor Weöres. Photo: Litera.

Sándor Weöres: The Secret Country

Let’s turn away from contemporary Hungarian politics for a moment–especially as HFP’s readers celebrate Easter and Passover–and immerse ourselves in the balmy waters of Southeast Asia, as seen through the eyes of Hungarian poet Sándor Weöres (1913-1989). As far as I could tell, this poem isn’t available anywhere on the Internet, so I am taking the liberty of typing it […]

by · April 4, 2015 · Culture
The production of Doktornők (Female Doctors) at the Ida Turai Theatre in November/December 2014. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

Hungarian theatre explores role of female doctors in First World War (Photo report)

In 1914, at the start of the First World War, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany famously promised that by the time the leaves fall from the trees, the War will be over. But when the signs of a bogged down conflict and a bloody stalemate became evident in December 1914, these words rang very hollow, indeed. Soldiers of Austria-Hungary faced the […]

by · December 1, 2014 · Culture
Éva Homor, Steven Kovács and Réka Pigniczky - the San Francisco team of the Hungarian Film Festival.

Hungarian film festivals in California

Hungarian immigrants made important contributions to Hollywood; Michael Curtis, Adolf Zukor, George Cukor, William Fox and the Korda brothers were legends in the last century. “It’s not enough to be talented – you have to be Hungarian in Hollywood.” There is some truth to this myth; during the 1930´s some claimed that the California film industry was dominated by Hungarians. […]

by · November 29, 2014 · Culture
The Wandering Muse / Tamás Wormser

Hungarian-Canadian filmmaker explores what it means to be Jewish

Tamás Wormser, a Montreal-based filmmaker of Hungarian origin, was featured in the Montreal Gazette today, in a piece written by columnist Bill Brownstein. Mr. Wormser, well-known for his “road doc” style documentaries, is having his film, The Wandering Muse, featured this Sunday at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal). The fifty year old director, who moved to […]

by · November 21, 2014 · Culture
The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

Budapest theatre tackles The Reunification of the Two Koreas

Joël Pommerat is one of the most dynamic and complex directors of contemporary French theatre. And this time his piece entitled The Reunification of the Two Koreas has made its way to Budapest, where it is being directed by Gábor Máté, with starring roles for János Kulka, Alexandra Borbély and Eszter Ónodi. Mr. Pommerat is no “run-of-the-mill” director and playwright. (Perhaps […]

by · November 6, 2014 · Culture