| Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe | |
| Director: | István Szabó |
| Producer: | Gabriella Grósz |
| Screenplay: | István Szabó |
| Starring: | Johanna ter Steege Enikő Börcsök |
| Music: | Mihály Móricz Tibor Bornai Feró Nagy Robert Schumann |
| Cinematography: | Lajos Koltai |
| Editing: | Eszter Kovács |
| Runtime: | 90 minutes |
| Country: | Hungary |
| Language: | Hungarian |
Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe (Hungarian: '''Édes Emma, drága Böbe - vázlatok, aktok''') is a 1992 Hungarian drama film co-written and directed by István Szabó. It was entered into the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize.[1] The film was selected as the Hungarian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 65th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[2] [3]
After that Russian language had been removed from compulsory subjects of Hungarian schools the two Russian teachers, Emma and Böbe became redundant. The teaching staff also were shaken of insecurity, accusing each other. Emma and Böbe are learning English in the evenings. Emma also sells newspapers and she has an affair with the married school director, who is not too brave to decide. One of the best scenes of the film when Böbe and many naked women - teachers and nurses - are waiting for casting in a film studio. Böbe is acquainted with foreigners and she trades in foreign currencies. Böbe will be arrested and she finally jumps out of the window of the teachers' accommodation.
The film shows the political system's changes in Budapest. "Szabó's sensitive handling of the material culminates in a meditative passage in which Emma stands in church, musing on the 'passion for love' which masks lack of purpose. 'Collective sin' may be dead, according to Böbe, but this movingly delineates the private pain of atonement", commented Time Out.[4]