By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 0.5 cats
Director: Tibor Szemzö
Original language title: Az élet vendége: Csoma-legendárium
Country: hungary
Year: 2007
Running time: 79
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407702/
Bruce says: “A GUEST OF LIFE is based on story of Alexander Csoma de Koros, a legendary 19th century Hungarian scholar who began a journey to Asia to discover the origins of the Hungarian people and unexpectedly ended up in Tibet compiling a English-Tibetan dictionary. The traditional folkloric tale has been embellished by the writer and director. This film would not be out of place were it shown at an anthropology convention, a music seminar or a philosophy symposium; film festival fare it is not. The 8mm footage is jumpy and grainy; the accompanying animation is crude and handmade. Koros is a wise man and he teaches Kings, Shahs and Maharajas about the meaning of life. Using ubiquity as a standard of measure, one could easily compare Koros to Zelig or Forrest Gump.
“Sussanah York, with a stilted English delivery, and the director, speaking English with a Hungarian accent in a deep baritone voice, take turns narrating the story. Often in the background are layers of Buddhist chanting or vignettes of the folktale being read in the language of the country Koros is passing through. Director Tibor Szemzö’s theory is that we need to listen to the music of language as well as the meaning of language.
“Inexplicably, this film has been in theaters in Hungary for over seven months. 1/2 cats
“A GUEST OF LIFE was screened at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival”