LIAS Film Series: "Monument to the Murderers"
With an Introduction by LIAS Fellow Gary Hussey
06. Nov
In the LIAS film series in cooperation with the SCALA arthouse cinema, international films on cultural and socially critical topics are accompanied by introductions and discussions every month.
Wednesday, November 6th, 7:30pm
Location: SCALA Arthouse Cinema | Apothekenstr. 17 | 21335 Lüneburg
Language: English Introduction and subtitles
Free admission.
The documentary film „Monument to the murderers“ recapitulates the debate around a monument erected in 2005 in the 12th district of Budapest to commemorate victims of WWII. It connects to Hungarian history, as it stands on the site of some of the most brutal crimes committed by the fascist and antisemitic Hungarian Arrow Cross Party in 1944 and 1945.
The monument is cause for heated political and social debates until today. It is the statue of a Turul bird holding a sword in its talons: this symbol of the mythical Hungarian bird had been adopted by national-socialist and antisemitic groups in the 20th century. Where it stands, countless civilians were brutally murdered by members of the Arrow Cross in winter 1944/1945, which was widely unknown at the time of erection. No one knew that among the names engraved on the foot of the statue many belonged to the murderers of Jews and leftists of Budapest‘s 12th district.
By varying historic documents, personal accounts and intense visual symbolism, the film makes those warcrimes palpable and brings on an examination by Hungary of it‘s painful history.
Hungary 2021, Director: Dániel Ács, 65 min, Hungarian original with english subtitels.
