Directed by István Szabó • 1980 • Hungary

Arguably the first mature masterpiece from one of Hungary’s greatest auteurs, Confidence is a perfectly controlled study in suspicion and longing. Set in a cowering Budapest in 1944, it follows two strangers forced to pose as a married couple in order to hide in plain sight from the Gestapo. As they play out the charade, each is fearful that the other may actually be a Nazi collaborator, but their mutual mistrust gives way to confidence as their mutual attraction increases. Szabó’s intimate, affecting film showcases impressive performances from leads Ildikó Bánsági and Péter Andorai, and subtle, haunting cinematography by Lajos Koltai, who also shot the director’s Mephisto and Colonel Redl.

CONFIDENCE • BIZALOM
Written and directed by István Szabó
Written by Erika Szántó, István Szabó
Cinematography by Lajos Koltai
Music by Tibor Polgár
Starring: Ildiko Bansagi, Janos Biro

Hungarian language with English subtitles

Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Direction, Berlin Film Festival, Germany, 1980