Product Description

Acclaimed Hungarian filmmaker Peter Bacso (THE WITNESS) directs a searing satire about the Stalinist era. Poor, pitiful Parana wanders into a tiny village in the remote regions of the Soviet Union during the summer of 1937--the darkest days of Stalinism. The farming collective has little sympathy for the unattractive girl dressed in sackcloth, and they torment and ridicule her. Taking refuge under a poster of Stalin, the villagers dub her "Stalin's bride." Parana's appearance in the village stirs up fear and anger, leading to unexpected consequences. International stage and screen actress Juli Basti stars in this allegory of intimidation and repression film from director Bacso, renowned for his pointed tales about the dark days of communism.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #143093 in DVD
• Brand: FACETS VIDEO
• Released on: 2006-03-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Hungarian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 89 minutes

Amazon.com
Stalinism is exposed as absurdity in Stalin’s Bride, set in the 1930s Soviet Union, where poverty and dejection have weakened the nation ruled by Stalin’s totalitarian regime. Hungarian filmmaker Péter Bascó (The Witness) tells the story of Paranya (played by Julí Básti), a Kaspar Hauser-like village idiot who emerges from a horse stable without the ability to express her thoughts. Though the townspeople initially treat her like an animal, they show concern after Paranya is imprisoned and tortured for naively claiming she is Stalin’s fiancé. The utter stupidity of the soldiers and police who pointlessly interrogate the speechless Paranya becomes nearly humorous once they begin to suspect her of being a spy who aims to sabotage the government. Like a stack of cards, the police system collapses due to fear of espionage, showing tenuous relationships based on the false worship of a corrupt leader. Distorted close-ups of characters’ faces, scenes of decadence, and a disgusting brown and gray color palette recall the Ken Russell film, The Devils, as does Stalin’s Bride’s plot, which shows a society rotten with suspicion and doubt. Paranya’s death at the end of the film comes as a welcome surprise after the hardships she has endured. Stalin’s Bride admonishes an unnecessarily complex world, leaving the viewer to question not only the motives of politicians in his/her own society, but also the motives of the people. —Trinie Dalton