Children of Glory

I was so pleased I managed to catch this terrific Hungarian language film - mainly on the recommendation of the film reviewer on Radio 2's Weekender programme. Starring Ivan Fenyo as a water polo player (and therefore a national hero in an Olympic year) and Kata Dobo as a student daughter of parents 'eliminated' by the secret police who becomes involved in the Hungarian Rising of 1956. The film begins with a brutal water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union - it is fixed to ensure a Russian victory, but because Ivan's character shows dissent he is warned by the secret police to stay loyal to Communism or his family will suffer. Shortly afterwards the insurrection begins and he meets Viki (Kata Dobo) who draws him into active participation in this doomed attempt to overthrow Soviet rule. The movie then traces the tragedy of 1956, the false hopes dashed, the brutal suppression, whilst the world expressed horror, but did nothing. As the uprising reaches its final phase, bizarrely (and truthfully) the Hungarian athletes head off to the Melbourne Olympics where the water polo team meets the Soviet Union in the semi finals - and they almost act out the clashes between Soviet troops and the Hungarian people - bloodshed in the pool. This is hardly a fun film, nor perhaps uplifting, but it is moving, very real and raw in emotional terms and the acting is believable. Oh yes, the water polo team defect to the capitalism of America. Rating 9/10