Emberek a havason (1942)

Emberek a havason: Directed by István Szöts. With Alice Szellay, János Görbe, Péterke Ferency, József Bihari. A woodcutter moves his wife and son onto a mountain for an attempt at a better life but tragedy soon sets in.

“Sometimes (rarely) a movie starts on TV which I have no intention of watching, but which I find myself drawn to. I pause and, contrary to intent, keep watching. I was walking past the TV when I saw the opening (title) shot, and I could not help but stop. Slowly, I was drawn in. Of course the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. But the pace of the film, its view of Nature, and its appreciation of a simple life, are attractive as well. The first twenty minutes or so are truly hypnotic! Just watching the couple and their child walk through the forest is mesmerizing. The latter half of the film, however, I was not that fond of. But then I guess the film needed some dramatic tension.”