Dir: László Ranódy | Drama: Hungary
Reviewed by Richard Chatten
Set in rural Hungary in the 1890s, but essentially timeless, Be Good until Death is a haunting fable told from the point of view of a lonely little boy – overpowered by his surroundings and viewed with suspicion by the adults – whose rare moments of intimacy are shared with his pet jackdaw. His essential innocence is in marked contrast to the corruption of the older generation, depicted as excessively preoccupied with the Lottery.
One of Hungary’s most accomplished post-war directors, László Ranódy was renowned for his sensitive literary adaptations and his deeply humane approach to storytelling. His films frequently explored childhood and moral conflict with quiet emotional intelligence, and this is a fine example of his gift for blending social observation with lyrical, almost fable-like imagery.
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