THE TYRANT'S HEART

Hungary/Italy, 1981, 110 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Miklos Jancso.

The Tyrant’s Heart is based on a story by Bocaccio. It is a story, as the title indicates, of love, power, betrayal.

It was directed by Miklos Jancso, one of the most celebrated of Hungarian directors. He began his career directing in 1951 and was still directing in the early years of the 21st century.

1. The work of Miklos Jancso: beauty, theatricality, symbolism? Creation of a period? Obscurity? Communication by suggestion and reference? History? The Hungarian background? His films of past and present? and interpretation?

2. Technical quality: richness of colour photography, light and darkness, decor, sets? The use of models from classical art? Fluidity in movement contrasted with tableaux? Time. space?

3. The claustrophobic effect? The blend of realism and symbolism? Set and symbol? Theatre. actors, masks? The characters all as actors? The action as a play? Reality and illusion? The impact of the film in itself, as an exercise? Its dramatic purpose, manipulation. truth and lies?

4. The background of the ballad and the drama? Historical background? Realism?

5. The film communications of history, the historical situation, the facts, the meaning? An analogy for perennial drama and a range of historical situations?

6. Gaspar and the story, Italy, the Archbishop, the actors, the father, uncle, mother, Turks? The experience of the mother and the girls, being killed, sleep, massage, confrontation. fear? Would he be king or not?

7. The friend and the laughter, mocking, sex, involvement, death or not? The actors, the mimes and the tableaux?

8. The uncle and his appearances? Intrigue, violence? Confessions? Death?

9. The mother and the trance? The marriage?

10. The character of the Turk, his presence, identity. advice, test?

11. The priest and his presence, the killing of the Archbishop, the revelation, the fight? The Sultan?

12. The impact of beauty, sensuality, violence and death. mystery, deceit? Dreams, trances, hypnosis?

13. The importance of the experience of being immersed in the film rather than analysing it?