July 5, 2007

 

Embassy Holds Screening of André Kertész Documentary

 

 

 

The Embassy of Hungary held a public screening of a documentary by Teri Wehn-Damisch about the well-known Hungarian-born photographer, André Kertész, on July 3rd. The event was organized in honor of the exhibition FOTO: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945, which is on display at the National Gallery of Art till September 3rd this year.

 

 

The film, André Kertész, of the Cities…Budapest, Paris, New York, was made in 1988 and follows the genius photographer in the last year of his life, when he decided to embark on a long journey from New York City to Budapest and Paris to visit the places that inspired him the most in his photographic endeavors. The documentary with its fascinating nostalgic aura shows the great influence these cities exerted on Kertész throughout his life.

 

 

Mrs. Náda P. Simonyi greeting the audience, with curator of Modernity and Tradition: Film in Interwar Central Europe Sonja Simonyi and Consul Imre Helyes sitting in the first row

 

 

Mrs. Náda P. Simonyi made a moving introductory speech before the screening started, thanking the artistically inclined audience for coming to the last cultural event during the five-year post of the Ambassador and herself in Washington. "It has been a very interesting and exciting five years", Mrs. Simonyi told the approximately 110 guests present, "and I only hope that you, our distinguished audience, had as good a time at our diverse cultural events, as we did." In her speech Mrs. Simonyi also emphasized Kertész's never-ceasing interest in exploring the peculiarities of modern urban life, which is the theme of many of his great photographs, explaining the importance each of the cities in the film's title had in the artist's life as well as his photographic oeuvre.

 

 

Mrs. Simonyi holding her opening speech

 

 

The full-house audience listening to Mrs. Simonyi's introductory remarks

 

 

The screening was followed by a reception where the guests could share their impressions of the film and taste some fine wine and 'pogácsa', a special Hungarian scone.