The Inheritance
1980 · Movie · 105 min. · Hungary
In this Hungarian drama, the effects of sterility and jealousy on a marriage are played out against a backdrop of World War II and the rising Nazi persecution of Jews. Director Marta Meszaros usually focuses on issues like pregnancy, middle-age, and other topics without questioning the broader picture. In this drama, Sylvia (Lili Monori) cannot have children, and she convinces married Jewish woman Irene (Isabelle Huppert) to have a child and then give the child to her for adoption. The plan works but it also backfires. The way in which the child was adopted causes friction between Sylvia and her husband, and to make matters worse, Sylvia's husband falls in love with Irene. A crisis looms when he asks his jealous wife to give Irene her identity papers because Jews are being deported and Irene will die without their help.
Direction Márta Mészáros
Cast Isabelle Huppert · Lili Monori · Jan Nowicki · Zita Perczel · Sándor Szabó · Zsolt Körtvélyessy · Witold Holtz · Éva Gyulányi · Zoltán Jancsó · Piotr Skrzynecki · Kati Sír · Károly Mécs
Soundtrack Zsolt Döme
Screenplay Ildikó Kórody · Jan Nowicki · Márta Mészáros · András Szeredás · Miklós Vásárhelyi
Cinematography Elemér Ragályi
Original title Örökség
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Not rated (FilmAffinity)
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