Hungarians in Hollywood: Peter Lorre

Peter Lorre is an actor immediately recognizable to anybody with even the most cursory interest in film history. You know him as the slippery underworld figure in Casablanca who provokes one of the film’s most famous lines by Humphrey Bogart: “I stick my neck out for nobody.” He is equally known for his portrayal as a killer of children in the German in Fritz Lang’s M. In Hollywood, he was again paired up with Humphrey Bogart in the enduring film noir classic The Maltese Falcon. Known for his diabolically reptilian looks and suspicious accent, he was sought after throughout his long career as a character actor ideal for the role of the colorful villain, particularly in war movies. One of his final roles also brought one of his greatest distinctions: Lorre was the first villain in a James Bond film, playing opposite Peter Nelson in Casino Royale.

But, Lorre is on this blog for a reason: and that is because he was born László Löwenstein on 26 June 1904 in Rózsahegy, then part of the Hungo-Austrian Empire, now part of Slovenia. He got his start in German-speaking parts of Europe: Vienna and Berlin, working with both Fritz Lang and Bertolt Brecht. Like many Hungarian Jews who eventually made it big in Hollywood, he fled Europe due to the outbreak of World War II. His first credit is actually as a Japanese in the series Mr. Moto. Typecast as a creepy villain, Lorre was never fully able to break into leading-man roles. Towards the end of his life his career took a downturn and he sustained himself on television parts and guest appearances. Suffering life-long health problems, he became addictid to morphine, which was believed to have brought about his early death in 1964. Actor Vincent Price – whose career took a similar path – read the eulogy at his funeral. All in all, Peter Lorre has over a hundred acting credits, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Not bad for a kid from Rózsahegy.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Filmed in Hungary: Dune's Trailer is Released

via Warner Bros.

We are not the only ones awaiting the remake of Dune, originally shot in 1984 and directed by David Lynch. The eighteen million or so people who viewed the just-released trailer, are all obviously among those curious about the buzz around Dune. It looks to be tapping into the original science fiction series enormous popularity, unlike the original, which was a flop of such colossal proportions that it closed off possibilities of filming the rest of the books in the series by writer Frank Herbert.

But with a lot of talent, enthusiasm, and professional acumen, Dune is back. As we reported before, the remake by Blade Runner 2049 (also shot in Hungary) director Denis Villeneuve was in part shot on sound stages in Hungary. The results, which can be seen in the just released official trailer, are compelling. From this brief but thrilling glimpse, it is apparent that the director is bringing his sleek, noirish style to the film. Where the first Dune was bright as the desert sun, this one is darker, more apocalyptic.

Stars like Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgard, and Charlotte Rampling were seen about Budapest during the filming, which was clearly a successful endeavour despite being interrupted by the lockdown in the spring, and then wrapping up in July. Hungary Today reports that additional filming had been undertaken as late as August, only a few weeks ago. Insider film site Deadliner.com is speculating that the film will be ‘epic’. If the trailer is any indication, they are right. It is all promising enough that the second part of Dune is already being planned.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Gábor Szabó: Hungary's Cult/Mainstream Guitarist

Via Wikipedia Commons By © David Redfern

There aren’t many guitarists that virtuoso Carlos Santana takes cues from, but on that short list, perhaps even near to the top, is Hungarian-born Gábor Szabó. Szabó, while held in great esteem by jazz musicians and learned rock guitarists, never really found his way to the mainstream. Despite this, his influence has been deeply felt throughout the decades since his death in 1982.

Born in Budapest in 1936, he would move to the United States twenty years later due to the Hungarian revolution. There, he studied at Boston’s famous Berklee College of Music. It wasn’t long before he started making a name for himself on the US jazz scene with his style, which is described as ‘moderate avant-gardism.’

His rock influenced style found many fans in the counter-culture and rock community of the 1960s. It was Carlos Santana who first covered Szabó, making his tune “Gypsy Queen” a hit in the States, and in the process winning the Santana a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, while reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 (the song was combined with “Black Magic Woman” by Peter Green). The mix of Hungarian folk, jazz, and Latin rhythms was a staple at Santana concerts.

According to the Budapest Business Journal: “Santana adored Szabó’s work, calling it “fantastic, spellbinding music.” It symbolized for Santana what was happening in the mid-1960s. The Beatles were, as Santana put it, “starting to interject a deeper thought” into pop. By then, Szabó was already experimenting with playing intelligent pop songs like Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” so, Santana said, “it was all merging without becoming confusion, fusing, all coming together very naturally.” Santana saw Szabó as being on a par with Jimi Hendrix, high praise indeed, especially in his innovative use of feedback. The difference was that, where Hendrix deployed feedback in a wild, psychedelic fashion, Szabó used it like a drone, because he was more into Indian music.”

Szabó first returned to Hungary in 1974, where he played with local jazz luminaries. Unfortunately the guitarist died young, at age 45, in 1982, from internal organ ailments. If there is any consolation here, it is that he died back home, in Budapest.

But the musician’s influence is still felt. For instance, the Hungarian Jazz Association honoured Szabó by naming a prize after him. In terms of all-time great jazz guitarists, Discovermusic.com has Szabó listed as the 14th greatest.

Below is Gábor Szabó’s peppy, “Gypsy Queen”. While informed by his American schooling, we think the Hungarian folk influences are easy to spot, and one of the reasons this guitarist and his music are so beloved.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Auto-Recall: Vauxhall Plays Hide and Seek in Budapest

Via Wikipedia Commons, photo by Christo

Turbulent times evoke different feeling in different people. While most go about their daily business, others fall back into creature comforts like food, libations, and Netflix. Some read. And still others retreat into nostalgia: give in to the media of less complicated times.

So, if this old advert for Vauxhall’s compact auto called the Corsa tugs at your heartstrings, you may be in the later category. Here we can indulge in nostalgia with so many layers it could be a cake. Foremost, the car is a niche favorite with drivers. But for those who are more familiar with local scenery, it provides a small nostalgic thrill to see that the ad revels in Budapest’s decrepit side. This was 2001, before EU and money from real estate developers overtook the city-wide renovation the facades of the elegant apartment blocks of Pest. The graffiti, the crumbling exposed brick, the colorlessness — despite how all this sounds — did give the city a certain romantic charm, the way a bouquet of dried roses can be as alluring as fresh-cut flowers. Fans of Brutalist architecture know what we are talking about. Of course, half the point of the monochrome scenery is to make the colorful little cars pop as they navigate portions of Budapest cars don’t normally go, in their game of ‘hide and seek’ (including a trash removal container and, the Danube).

Keen connoisseurs of culture will also note that the soundtrack is the song “Sensitive Touch” by English indie icons The Fall. This was from the era when advertising found pop and punk music to be the most effective soundtrack to car adverts, most memorably exemplified by Sting’s song “Desert Rose” in Jaguar ads.

We’d love to find a connection the Fall have to Budapest, but outside of their sense of pride in being different, there might just not be one. But that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying this old advert and basking in the warm golden rays of the past. The cars are hidden, but enjoyment is where you find it.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Martin Scorsese Joins Kornél Mundruczó in Pieces of a Woman

Hungarian film-maker Kornél Mundruczó has gotten some space in this blog before, and with good reason. As a director, his films have increasingly attracted international attention, including winning the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes for White God. Having recently completed his first English language film, Pieces of a Woman, the director is now set to attract an even larger audience.

Martin Scorsese also knows a thing or two about film. By taking an interest in the director and Pieces of a Woman, coming aboard as an executive producer, as was announced in the trade papers, it can only bode well for the film’s international success.

The screenplay was written by Hungarian playwright Kata Weber, based on her stage play by the same title. Starring Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, and Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn, the film is summarized by Rotten Tomatoes as such: “When a home birth goes tragically awry, a grieving woman is thrust into an emotional inner journey by trying to come to terms with her loss while also dealing with the ramifications in her interpersonal relationships with her husband and estranged mother.”

Of Pieces of A Woman, Scorsese commented: “It’s lucky to see a movie that takes you by surprise. It’s a privilege to help it find the wide audience it deserves. Pieces Of A Woman for me was a deep and uniquely moving experience. I was emotionally invested in it from the first scene, and the experience only intensified as I watched, spellbound by the filmmaking and the work of a splendid cast that includes my old colleague Ellen Burstyn. You feel as if you’ve been dropped into the vortex of a family crisis and moral conflict with all its nuances, drawn out with care and compassion but without judgement. Kornél Mundruczó has a fluid, immersive style with the camera that makes it hard to look away, and impossible not to care.”

Mundruczó replied: “When I first was contacted by Martin Scorsese after he saw Pieces Of A Woman, time stopped for a second. It is an utter privilege that someone, who has seen and experienced filmmaking inside and out appreciates what we’ve created. One always feels more vulnerable with intimate and “close to your heart” materials, but Martin Scorsese joining Pieces Of A Woman, on top of an already fantastic cast and crew, is a deeply appreciated validation of the risks one takes when going forward to make something truly personal.”

Though filmed in Canada, Pieces of A Woman is a joint American-Hungarian production. Pieces of a Woman will have its world premier at the Venice Film Festival in early September.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Alien-list: Luke Evans' Tour of his Favorite Places in Budapest

The Alienist, the series based on the blockbuster novel by Caleb Carr, was one of the many productions to pull an amazing slight-of-hand and use Budapest as a stand-in for a far away location. In The Alienist’s case, Budapest became turn-of-the-century (the last century, that is) New York. The collaboration was successful enough that a sequel was ordered, The Alienist: Angel of Darkness, which was also shot here in Hungary.

So, it’s fair to say that Alienist star Luke Evans has been around Budapest for long enough have an informed opinion on its merits. In a recent video (below), which promotes both the show and the city, Evans takes the viewer around Budapest, and even dishes some local secrets.

While Evans begins his tour with some of the tried and true choices: the Castle, and the Chain Bridge, he quickly moves on to more personal favorites, like the Liberty Bridge (Budapest’s smaller, more elegant bridge) and while introducing us to the Gellért thermal baths, he is quick to point out that you can have a DIY bath in the famous bath’s spill-off that gathers in a rogue hand-constructed pool by the Danube, for free.

The legality of bathing in that pool — it’s a popular thing for local young people to do — is questionable. But as Will Smith showed us with his stunt of shooting video footage of him dancing atop the Chain Bridge, stars in Budapest are often given the benefit of the doubt.

Evans also reveals himself to be a fan of the electric scooters that now buzz around town, through the company Lime. In particular, he enjoyed the open greenery of Margaret Island, which he calls, ‘a secret garden’ in the middle of the city. He is right, though perhaps it is not such a secret.

That Budapest became one of the favorite cities of a star who passed through is no surprise. Actors like Matt Damon and Brad Pitt also fell under the city’s spell while working here. But it’s also nice to see an endorsement that gets more personal and informed (and comes with a video!)

The Alienist: Angel of Darkness, is currently running on TNT. Below find Luke Evans’ tour of Budapest.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Kempelen Farkas and the Hoax of the Century

If you have ever spent any time in Hungary, you know that native Hungarians are proud of the numerous inventors who have originated from their country. From the ball-point pen to the atom bomb, Hungarians can take credit for inventions both practical and revolutionary. But not all famous Hungarian inventors were so pragmatic. Take, for instance, Kempelen Farkas (better known by his German name, Wolfgang von Kempelen), a lifelong inventor and creator of the ‘chess robot’ known as ‘The Turk’.

These days, you can play chess against a computer, and, unless you are a grandmaster, it is likely the computer could beat you. The Turk, however, used no software. In fact, there was no such thing as software when The Turk was invented, back in 1770. Yet the life-sized metal ‘chess robot’ defeated challengers drawn from esteemed ranks of world leaders like Napoleon Bonaparte and great thinkers like Benjamin Franklin. The Turk was unveiled by Kempelen in an effort to impress Hapsburg Empress Maria Theresa. She was impressed, and fooled, as were spectators for a full thirty years, until it was revealed that The Turk was a hoax: hidden inside a wooden box beneath the chess board sat various chess masters, operating The Turk’s hands. The Turk will go down as one of the greatest all-time hoaxes, and was made all the more believable due to Kempelen’s reputation as an esteemed man of science.

Other inventions of Kempelen were less frivolous, and indeed, at least one was ground-breaking. His ‘Speaking Machine’ was constructed of such curious parts as a reed from a bagpipe, a bellows (used to blow a fire), and the bell of a clarinet, all constructed to imitate a human voice. Kempelen would spend much of his life attempting to perfect the machine, making several different versions. Ultimately, the machine was not able to fully replicate natural speech, though it was able to utter phrases in English and French. Its one huge limitation was that the speech was delivered in a wheezy monotone. But at the time it was as close as any inventor had come to mechanically imitating the human voice. And no, there was not a tiny man inside the Speaking Machine doing the talking. This one was legitimate.

Like many great Hungarian inventors before and after him, Kempelen died penniless, having fallen out of favor with the Monarchy. His great automaton The Turk also suffered a tragic fate: it was destroyed in a fire. Kempelen’s name lives on, however, and is oft uttered by automaton-obsessed writers and fans of ‘Steampunk’ literature. His legitimate contributions are also remembered in the form of The Wolfgang von Kempelen Science History Prize.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Location Spotter: Jahn Ferenc Hospital

Photo by By Herzi Pinki via Wiki Commons. (Not Jan Ferenc, but Town Hall in Vienna, Austria)

While the Jahn Ferenc Hospital, or any hospital for that matter, is no place to make casual visit to in these times, in the future there is good reason to have a look in Budapest’s Jahn Ferenc Hospital, as it has the distinction of having one of two actively used paternoster elevators in Hungary.

A paternoster lift, is basically an elevator that features open compartments that run on a continuous loop, meaning the passenger needs to step into and out of the moving contraption, looking like a toy for human sized gerbils. While paternosters have been largely discontinued around the world due to safety reasons, they are greatly sought out by a certain type of steam-punk, or even hipster, traveler. Smithsonian Magazine and Atlas Obscura have both written about paternoster lift tourism. If that’s your thing too, Europe is the place to be. Germany is Europe’s epicentre of paternosters with over 200, with Czech Republic is in second place with 68, Hungary has but two, the second in the city of Miskolc at a university.

According to Wikipedia, “The name paternoster ("Our Father", the first two words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin) was originally applied to the device because the elevator is in the form of a loop and is thus similar to rosary beads used as an aid in reciting prayers.” The first paternoster was built by architect Peter Ellis, in 1868 in Liverpool, England.

While paternosters are still in use, they are being phased out. In Germany, before the general public was barred from riding them, there was an average of one death a year from paternoster accidents. So if you happen to have an accident on the Jahn Ferenc paternoster, count yourself as lucky: you are already in a hospital, and won’t have to travel far for assistance.

GIF via Wikipedia Commons: RokerHRO - A feltöltő saját munkája, CC BY-SA 3.0,

So, while we could go on about the renovated autopsy room the Jahn Ferenc hospital, or the social modernist (we think) design, it’s more ‘uplifting’ shall we say, to focus on the oddity that is the paternoster, and feel lucky Budapest still has a working example of this technological curia.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Han Su-Yeon : Portrait of a Korean Artist in Budapest

Han Su-Yeon via Asian Wiki.com

Despite our difficult language and sometimes complicated bureaucracy, Budapest and Hungary are home to any number of expats, long-term visitors, and foreign students. People come here from all over the world to make their careers, to explore history, or as tourists who got seduced into staying. Like most great cities, there is a healthy amount of diversity in Budapest. So while it may surprise some to hear South Korean actor Han Su-Yeon  speaking Hungarian in a recent South Korean documentary about Hungary, such surprises are becoming less unusual.

Having spent a good portion of her youth here, Su-Yeon  actually speaks the language fluently, and is something of a local expert. In a recent interview with local news site Index, Su-Yeon  recalled some of her memories good and bad of being a long-term foreigner in Budapest.

Having moved to Budapest at a young age with her mother, who studied classical piano at the illustrious Liszt Ferenc Academy, Su-Yeon learned to speak Hungarian in school, and sometimes with the ‘help’ of classmates who teased her. But eventually Su-Yeon  found acceptance in the public school she attended, making many friends. It was there that she found an appreciation for the language that expressed itself in reading Hungarian literature like Ferenc Molnár’s Paul Street Boys, and through learning choice curse words.

Her love of acting perhaps sprang in part from the habit of going to films alone at a now defunct cinema near Móricz Zsigmond Circle. It wasn’t until she returned to South Korea, graduating with a degree in acting from Shongjungvan University in Seoul, that her career took off, appearing in several movies as well as the Korean soap opera True Love.

As a youth she began writing a diary in Hungarian, a habit she continues to this day. Moreover, she keeps current with her favorite Hungarian bands, like the Animal Cannibals (who have appeared on this blog before) and practicing the language with her sister, also a Hungarian speaker. It will come in useful if her plans of buying a second home in Hungary come true.

With her love of Hungarian language and culture, we only hope she will return soon.

This article is based on an interview with Han Su-Yeon  published in Index.hu

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Location Spotter: Szentendre

via Wikipedia Commons

Need a location that conveys small-town Central Europe while staying near to the film studios of Budapest? Then Szentendre is your next stop. The village lies just 20 kilometers from Budapest and is known for its quint, cobblestone streets and pristinely preserved city center. Not exactly a well-kept secret, Szentendre is routinely listed as the number one day trip in travel guides to Hungary.

via Wikipedia Commons

Inhabited since the days of the Roman Empire, there is no shortage of historical sites and influences in the architecture. Though Hungarians currently make up over 90 percent of the population, Saxons, Slovakians, Greeks, Bulgarian, Turkish, and Serbians have all left their mark on the village, which remains somewhat multi-cultural. Named for Saint Andrew, there are any number of Orthodox (particularly Serbian) details to churches and public spaces alike. The prevailing Baroque architecture that characterizes the city center gives the town a universally European feeling, and would be an appropriate stand-in for towns from most European countries.

Don’t mistake the classic feeling for stodginess, though. Szentendre has long been a cultural center and arts hub. In past and present, it has been a location for artists’ retreats and home to a number of fine arts museums (including one dedicated to the beloved Hungarian sculptress Margit Kovács).

Via Wikipedia Commons

It is worth mentioning that Hungary’s largest film studios – Korda Studios, Raleigh Studios, and Origo Film Group – are all but a stone’s throw from Szentendre. The village has direct access from Budapest and its international airport.

With both wide streets and narrow cause-ways, classical churches, and scenic Danube views, Szentendre has been discovered by tourists, and it is only a matter of time before this unique location captures the attention of international film-makers.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

The Stars Come Out: Budapest Retains all Michelin Stars

via the Borkoynha FB page

Despite the let’s say—difficult—beginning to 2020, Budapest is back on track to welcome visitors from all over the world. Cinemas are due to open, as are pools and limited seating concerts. Of course restaurants have been open for weeks now, and you can even sit indoors if you choose to.

It’s reassuring to know that while there were some permanent closures, many fine dining restaurants have re-opened, and six top-tier ones have received the good news that they retained their Michelin stars. These include Costes, Costes Downtown, Borkonyha Wine Kitchen, Babel, Stand, and the solo two star restaurant, Onyx. Fifteen Hungary-based restaurants were commended for good food, and Petrus maintained its coveted Bib Gourmand. The closest nation from the post Soviet bloc region, Poland, has but three stars.

via the Onyx Facebook page

Fine dining in Hungary has come a very long way in a very short period of time. Where stiff service and chaffing-dish food dominated the post-Socialist era, now the emphasis is on farm-sourced ingredients, elevations of traditional fare, and friendly unpretentious service. It should go without saying that local wines are showcased on most fine dining menus, and with good reason: local wine is one of the under-reported delights of culinary tourism in Hungary.

via the Babel Facebook page

Along the way, chefs like Tamás Széll and Szabina Szulló have become local culinary icons, if not celebrities. So don’t count out trying Mangalica — Hungary’s coveted fatty pork — at Borkoynha, and following it up with a prized Tokaji Aszú dessert wine this summer. But remember that we may have been on pause for a bit, but we are back, and it’s worth making a reservation.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

A Tribute to Sushant Singh Rajput

Sushant Singh Rajput and KritiSanon via By Bollywood Hungama/ WikipediaCommons

We are very shocked and sad to learn of the passing of Indian film and television star Sushant Singh Rajput, who spent time in Budapest a few years back working on the film Raabta. The actor brought a tireless work ethic and good cheer to the long days of shooting, and was remembered fondly by all who worked with him.

An unlikely star, Rajput actually set out to be an engineer, and showed academic prowess, winning honors as a national Olympiad in physics. While at the prestigious Dehli Technological University, Rajput enrolled in a dance class, and proving talented, also joined a drama class. Rajput was blessed with a facility for both, and was invited into a professional dance troupe a mere few months’ time later.

Of acting, Rajput said: "I found the experience liberating. I realised that I could communicate with the audience. I knew I wanted to do this forever.” Indeed, it wasn’t long before he quit engineering to study dance and acting full time.

The actor soon found a roles on a few Indian TV series, before getting his break in film, cast in one of the leads of the Indian film Kai Po Che! Its commercial success opened door to numerous other Indian films before being cast opposite Bollywood star Kriti Sanon in Raabta. The Hindi language romance directed by Dinesh Vijan was shot in Budapest, in Tata (Hungary), and in India.

Says Flatpack co-founder Zita Kisgergely: “We were truly shocked to hear the devastating news on Sushant who we worked with on the Raabta shoot and who along with Kriti Sanon were the shining stars of our busy days for two month.” Assistant Director Fruzsina Szőke also remembers her friendship with Rajput: “Sushant, who I only called Sush, was without a doubt one of the most gentle and precious souls I have ever met. I spent a lot of time with him and we kept our connection since working on Raabta. He was always smiling during shooting, was cheerful and funny, and had a good word for everybody. In the mean time, he was such a clever, intelligent little boy for me, despite that he was even a bit older than me. I was amazed how much work he put in his acting career to be the best at it, and also was well read about everything, like everything. Even mathematics and philosophy! He held a special place in my heart, one he will always have! Goodbye love!”

Rajput more recently also starred in Dil Bechara, the Bollywood remake of The Fault in Our Stars, which would have been in theatres now, were it not for the pandemic. An actor with huge versatility, discipline, and warmth, we say goodbye to Sushant Singh Rajput.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach

Budapest Awaits! An Invitation to Return

photo via the Cimbalom World Association Facebook page

Now more than ever, we are alert to signs of optimism, and looking to the future. With border restrictions dwindling by the day, Budapest is preparing to reopen not just to locals, but to the world at large. As it stands, restaurants are back in business, as are pubs and shopping streets. Soon we will have cinemas and our famous thermal baths to look forward to.

This spirit of hopefulness is reflected in the promotional video, Budapest Awaits! sponsored by the Visit Budapest campaign. Like a few of the other videos we’ve seen shot over the course of the lockdown, Budapest Awaits! takes great advantage of diminished streetlife to feature iconic locations around the city, from Heroes’ Square to Fishermen’s Bastion, to the very rare shot of an empty thermal bath.

In their own words, “Budapest has always been a vibratingly lively space to live, filled with true meaning by all the residents and visitors. The city now prepares in calm slumber to greet us again on its streets.

The newest short film of Budapest Festival- and Tourism Centre is presenting this uniquely peculiar perspective for the ones remaining home. Conducted by sunlight two domestic artists brings back life to these familiar, still tranquil spaces, foreseeing the approaching moment of our reunion with the capital. Budapest awaits”

Dancer János Feledi really brings the score by Miklós Lukács to life in this inspiring video (the instrument is a cimbalom, in case you don’t know) Have a look. We hope to see you soon.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Zimmer Free: Hans Zimmer Video Filmed in Budapest

Hans Zimmer via By JNH et HZ at Wikipedia Commons

Hans Zimmer is considered by many to be the Mozart of film scores. Having scored over 150 films, it is not without good reason. Accolades include an Academy Award for his score for the Lion King, four Grammys, and two Golden Globes. Even more fascinating (for some) he worked with the band the Buggles, and can be seen in their video for “Video Killed the Radio Star”, the first video ever played on MTV. As if that wasn’t enough, he is also the head of the film music division of DreamWorks. He is an industry unto himself.

German, with roots in Switzerland, England and of course, Hollywood, Zimmer is worldly enough to be the right person to create one of the iconic music videos released during the global pandemic. Entitled “Time”, the track was originally on the Inception film soundtrack. Remixed by Alan Walker, the tune has been given a second life, complete with a video, which was shot in such diverse locations as New York, London, Oslo, and of course, Budapest, where a shot of Zimmer playing piano in LA is projected against Budapest’s Chain Bridge.

Though Budapest is only briefly featured, it is quite a dramatic segment, during this cathartic, emotionally complex piece of music. The tone of “Time” is reflected perfectly by the Chain Bridge’s imposing, yet aspirational design. The masked onlooker in the video, looking up into the night sky, gives an ominous feeling, something so many films have taken advantage of when shooting in this city.

Aside from the projection, Zimmer has been to Budapest before, recently playing live. He also toured here in 2016, and his score to Pirates of the Caribbean was performed in the city in 2017. Here’s hoping he returns soon. Until then, enjoy the hopeful message of unity, and let it be the soundtrack to Spring as Budapest opens up to the world again.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

László Bíró and the Invention of the Century

Like most Hungarian inventors, László’s Bíró’s life was fraught with intrigue, adventure and tragedy. You will recognize his invention by his last name: the word synonymous with modern writing tools. The Biro, though not the first ballpoint pen, was the first functional ballpoint pen that was dependable and could stand up to the rigors of travel and frequent use.

The idea to create the ballpoint came from the frustrations Bíró experienced as a journalist. Fountain pens were not practical and were frequently messy to work with. Biro found that the real test in perfecting his invention was not the design, which came fairly quickly, but the ink, which needed exactly the right consistency to flow from the pen without stopping up the ball. Bíró and his partners experimented for years, taking on numerous investors (and giving up valuable rights) along the way. One prominent investor was the British Air Force, which needed a pen that would not burst at high altitudes (they still use Biro’s ballpoint pent to this day).

Biro might have lived out a comfortable life with his family, but as with most prominent figures of the 20th Century, history intervened. Bíró, though secular, was of Jewish ethnicity, and subject to the prejudice and discrimination. Anticipating the horrors of World War II, Bíró immigrated to Paris, where he was able to patent his version of the pen. When it became clear that Paris was not safe either, he boarded a ship to Argentina, at the behest of a fellow Hungarian, who planned to build a global business around producing and licensing rights to the pen. Because Bíró was indebted to his investors, and depended on them to get is wife out of the increasingly hostile atmosphere in Hungary, he was never able to financially exploit his own invention. Indeed, the patent was eventually sold to Marcel Birch, who, over time, evolved the Biro into the Bic, the most popular pen in history. Bíró died well off, but by no means rich.

The Argentinians honor Bíró on his birthday, September 29, and proclaim it ‘Inventors’ Day.’ The rest of the world honors Bíró every time they pick up a ballpoint pen: one of the most revolutionary products in history.

Below is a short informative video on the invention of the ballpoint pen.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Cocktail Corner: The Scent of Spring in Hungary

Spring weather in Budapest can be glorious, making it the favorite season of many locals. It also helps that markets are full with fresh Hungarian produce. Agricultural traditions are strong in rural Hungary, and until recently not much produce was imported. This means many of the best fruits and vegetables are available seasonally, like asparagus and blueberries. But one of the great spring flavors is rarely seen in grocery stores or markets, and frequently picked by hand and sold informally. We’re talking about Hungarian elderflower, which is used to make delicious elderflower cordials and specialty lemonades and cocktails. Adventurous cooks also boil it down and use it as a component in toppings for ice-cream, an infusion in strawberries, and flavoring in cakes and tarts.  

In Hungary, elderflower season lasts from mid May to early June, though some believe it is only good for picking for a few weeks. The delicate lace-like flower has an easily recognizable lemony, musty scent. The air  by where it grows is fragrant with the very unique sweet musty floral smell of the flower, which also grows on trees around Budapest. If you stop mid-walk in late May and ask ‘what’s that smell’? The answer is usually elderflower.

The elderflower has a second coming in the autumn, when the elderberries are ready to pick and be made into elderberry jam, but in some circles, it’s the flower that is the real delicacy. Below have a look at how famed Hungarian food blogger, Zserbo recommends preparing elderflower for a refreshing drink.

Ingredients:

Note: quantities in parentheses are approximate since in Hungary metric units are used.

• 4 elderflower heads

• 400 g (~2 cups) sugar

• 1 unwaxed lemon

• 10 g (~2 1/2 tsp) citric acid

Wash and shake the elderflowers to remove any insects. Thoroughly wash the lemon, then slice it into thick slices.

Place sugar, elderflowers and lemon slices into a 2,5 liter jar. Scatter citric acid over them.

Pour water to fill the jar. Stir to dissolve sugar and citric acid. Cover the jar with a plate and leave to steep for 48-72 hours.

Strain through a fine muslin cloth or a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl.

Using a funnel, fill plastic bottles. The soft drink can keep for a few days in the fridge, but you can freeze the filled bottles to keep for longer.

Serve chilled, diluted with soda, still or sparkling water, or Prosecco for a perfect summer spritzer.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Kills on Wheels Gets American Remake

While historically, it is more common for foreign film-makers to come to Budapest to take advantage of the amazing locations and production expertise, it is also nice when Hungary gets to see one of its own films sent out into the world and achieve enormous success. In the case of Kills on Wheels — in Hungarian Tiszta Szívvel — international recognition began with the Oscars. While it ultimately didn’t make the short-list selection, the film was Hungary’s choice for consideration for Best Foreign Language Film. This heightened profile brought it to the attention of Noah Wylie, the American TV/film star, who was starting up his own production company, Slippery Moon Productions, which bought the rights to remake an American version of writer/director Attila Till’s film. It has been reported the Warner Bros. is also producing. While Till’s original version was a feature length film, Wylie is looking to make an extended series, to take advantage of the increased interest in home entertainment.

Deadline.com summarizes the film’s plot as such: “Set in an assisted living facility, Kills on Wheels tells the story of two young men with disabilities, whose lives are transformed when they are asked to aid a paraplegic assassin in his quest to dismantle the Serbian crime syndicate that betrayed him.” In the same article, Wylie discusses his reasons for taking on the project: “The film had this punk-rock sensibility. I had never seen anything quite like it. The film was cast with actors who had disabilities and I was struck by how all of my sympathies, empathies and touch of pity toward the community was thrown back in my face violently. It revealed to me how little they want that.”

The Hungarian version was notable for its use of physically challenged actors, and not stars who played as such. The film was a hit with the trades: Variety said it is: “An engaging, disability-focused Hungarian dramedy that, despite the crass title, is actually an inventive coming-of-age tale.” Cineoutsider.com praised the acting: “A trio of fine performances and the fact that the odds are theoretically so stacked against them on every job makes it disarmingly easy to bond with the three leads….Back when I reviewed Nimród Antal’s Kontroll in 2005 I saluted modern Eastern European cinema for casting people who really looked like the characters they played, and that statement still stands today.”

Once things normalize in California, not to mention Hungary, we look forward to this international interpretation of a local favorite. Below find the trailer to the original, with English subtitles.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Location Spotter: Hungary, 1920

Sometimes a location isn’t a place but a time. Here we have a look a hundred years into the past, when 1920 Hungary was a very different place from 2020 Hungary. This was back when it wasn’t Hungary, but The Kingdom of Hungary, with larger — but shrinking — borders, and a significant Yiddish speaking population. The excellent free photo archive Fortepan has made these and over 100,000 photos from Hungary’s past available on-line. This is just a small window, though it includes a look into old world Hungarian hospitals. The cars too were of course something else. Though Pre-War Hungary was quite a different world, it is still good to know they also liked convertibles.

via Fortepan/ Sűtő János

via Fortepan/Göcseji Múzeum

via Fortepan/Göcseji Múzeum

via Fortepan/Göcseji Múzeum

via Fortepan/Göcseji Múzeum

via Fortepan/Ungvári Ildikó

via Fortepan/Ungvári Ildikó

via Fortepan/ Dr Varga Csaba

via Fortepan/Lőrinczi Ákos

via Fortepan/Lőrinczi Ákos

via Fortepan/Lőrinczi Ákos

You can find the Fortepan archive here.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Watch Party: Stream Hungarian Classic Vuk for Free!

Cinema closures have meant increased interest in streaming films, and though that is largely troubling for the film industry, the silver lining is that audiences are discovering and rediscovering classics and films they might not have otherwise given a chance. Luckily, the Hungarian Film Archive has made numerous classic Hungarian films available online, many for free. One such film is the animated classic Vuk, a beloved family film about a fox cub.

Adapted from a popular children's novel of the same name, it was the second of writer István Fekete’s books to be made into a film. The first was the novel Tüskevár (Thorn Castle), which came out in 1957 and was filmed ten years later. Vuk, too, was released during Socialist times, in 1981, and produced by Pannónia Filmstúdió.

The story follows similar coming-of-age animal plots like American classic Bambi, only it is done with a bit of Central European flair, and expert animation. According to wikifur.com here’s what to expect: “The film is about a fox cub, Vuk, who ventures away from his family's den and, upon his return, learns from his uncle Karak that his entire family has been shot and killed by a human hunter. Karak then offers for Vuk to stay with him, and Karak continues to raise him.As Vuk grows older, he develops much cunning and cleverness. Now a young adult fox, he finds a vixen held captive in a cage on a human farm. He tricks the guard dogs and other animals, as well as the hunter himself, and eventually helps the vixen escape. She joins Vuk and Karak in the woods. Karak is killed by humans during a hunt. Vuk swears revenge on the hunter and finally accomplishes it, playing many jokes on the hunter's stupid dogs and eventually on the man himself. At the end of the film, Vuk and his wife have cubs.”

Vuk themed mural via the Vuk Facebook page

Vuk is not to be confused with the British/Hungarian animated film Kis Vuk -- or A Fox’s Tale -- which is the film’s more internationally minded sequel, in part voiced by Miranda Richardson (and also made in Budapest). The later was computer animated, and a bit of a flop. 

The original Hungarian Vuk is the one to watch, and it is online for free, with English subtitles. And of course we have the link for you below. Got a favorite Hungarian classic available for legal streaming? Let us know in the comments!  In the meantime, enjoy this tale of cunning and caring. Just what we need right now.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.

Sam and the Volcano: the Exploring Spirit of Sámuel Teleki

Sámuel Teleki via Wikipedia Commons

It’s a little known fact that in Africa, in southern Kenya to be exact, there is a volcano that bears a very Hungarian sounding name. The formation in question: Teleki’s Volcano, was named as such, because it was discovered by Hungarian explorer Count Sámuel Teleki. 

Historically, no doubt because it is a land-locked country, Hungarians haven’t set sail to name or colonize distant parts, like the British, Dutch, and Spanish. But the aristocracy where well traveled, and enterprising. Their enormous wealth made such journeys possible.

Sámuel Teleki was born in 1845, in then-Hungarian Transylvania. A politician by creed, he also was an avid hunter. While his studies took him to Germany, his hobby took him to Africa, particularly the eastern portion, where he could safari, hunt, and explore. But Teleki also traveled in the fashion of an aristocrat, taking with him some 400 porters on his expedition, starting down the Ruvu River in Tanzania. 

Teleki Volcano via Hungarikumokkal.com

Teleki was one of the first European explorers to take significant interest in this portion of Africa. He was also the first explorer to reach the snow line on Mount Kilimanjaro (he would later fail to make it to the mountain’s peak). While he is also credited with discovering several African lakes, it should be noted that he only discovered them for Europe, as they were of course known to locals. 

It was in east Africa, in Kenya, when he came upon the active volcano, which now bears his name: Teleki’s Volcano. But that is not the only discovery that was named after him. He took great interest in the area’s flora and fauna. A giant Lobelia plant native to Kenya is also called Tekeki (the plant looks like a strange hairy cactus, and grows at high altitudes, like on Mt. Kenya). 

Teleki did return to Hungary, and died in Budapest, quite famous, and still rich, in 1916. His legacy abroad may be small, but it is significant. His volume East African Diaries is still around and available to be read, and from what we understand, the volcano he discovered has yet to blow. Perhaps it likes its name, and wants to keep up the good image of Hungarians abroad.

via Wikipedia Commons

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.