THE PORCELAIN DOLL

A feature film based on the novella collection Csillagmajor (Star Farm) by Ervin Lázár

Director: Péter Gárdos

DP: Tibor Máthé

In 1996 Ervin Lázár published a magical novella collection, Csillagmajor (Star Farm). These novellas are connected by their location, the all too real FARM, where loveable, naive, and cunning farmers live.

However, all the stories on this farm, at one point or another, often at the beginning of the novella, take off from the ground with a miraculous and unexpected turn. Then, without any particular guidance - become a fairy tale.

A fairy tale out of the ordinary. These stories of Rácpácegres immerse into the traumatic and dreadful history of the 20th century. One way or another, the farmers, living by their own laws, find themselves up against the laws of the surrounding (outside) World and from these conflicts, uplifting and tear shredding magical stories are born.

From these stories our film, "The Porcelain Doll", tells three tales that are closely connected.

From the far away outside world soldiers on horseback arrive to the Farm where they are unexpectedly confronted by a 14 year old adolescent boy.

At the time when history takes a swerve a "comrade" visits the farmlands from a government headquarter and promises that he will resurrect the dead...

In another bad year in memory an elderly Swabian couple tries to hide from the relocation process, but somebody reports them...

The three tales in the end are the same story with the same cast as well. "The Porcelain Doll" is a message from a long extinct past. Three formidable miracles from Europe's twentieth century.