Hungary, 1969
1h 45 min

Banned for over a decade for its outspoken criticism of the post-WWII communist regime in Hungary, Péter Bacsó’s ‘The Witness’ has since then achieved unparalleled cult status in its native land. Known as the best satire about communism, ‘The Witness’ has become a cult classic. It was also well-received by critics and general audiences when it was finally released outside of Hungary. Its candid and realistic portrayal of the incompetent communist regime earned great acclaim for both the director and the film itself when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981. ‘The Witness’ takes place during the height of the Rákosi Era, which was closely modeled after the ruthless Stalin regime. The film follows the life of an ordinary dike keeper, József Pelikán, who was caught illegally slaughtering his pig, Dezsõ. Instead of doing a hard time for his “heinous” crime, Pelikán is elevated into an important position, generally reserved for the communist elite…