No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
PBS Looks at Two Innovators in the Film Industry
Oct 25, 2009
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos is the story of these two significant cinematographers who changed the face of films. Not only is their work in the film industry incredible, but the story of their lives is just as remarkable.
When the Russians invaded Hungary, two film students, Laszlo and Vilmos, were in the midst of it all. The year was 1956 and these two men risked their lives to secretly film the terrors of the time in their homeland. They escaped the country with the film and made their way to America. This is the story of their lives and careers.
The two cinematographers brought a new direction to movies. They each had remarkable and unique ways of looking at scenes and using light. And they have each made their mark in the industry.
Laszlo and Vilmos Defined a New Vision in the World of Cinematography
Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Deliverance, Paper Moon, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Ghostbusters, Ghost, What’s Up Doc?, Nickelodeon, New York New York, Radio Flyer, Two Weeks Notice, The Deer Hunter, Scarecrow, The Rose, Blow Out, The Witches of Eastwick, The Black Dahlia and other notable films bare their mark. Their reputation made them highly sought after by directors and producers. They were unique.
Actors knew that they were in good hands with either of these two men. Their unique styles and interpretation added to the storylines and made the films more remarkable than they would have been without their keen eyes and perception.
Renowned film critic Leonard Maltin says, “When it comes to Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond, it’s clear that the American New Wave of the late 1960’s and early 70’s wouldn’t have flowered as it did without them.” Others interviewed in this film include Peter Bogdanovich, Richard Donner, Mark Rydell, John Williams, Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, Karen Black, Sharon Stone, and Sandra Bullock.
Their Lives Were as Remarkable as Their Work
Watching the two cinematographers work is incredible and listening to them reminisce about their lives is even more so. Laszlo ventured back into his homeland to smuggle out their girlfriends. Later, they both returned to Hungary in better times to teach special classes to young filmmakers.
Besides talking about their lives, they discuss how they wanted to make the scenes in different films and how they saw the light as part of the scenes. Both men talk at length about both their lives and careers.
Laszlo died in 2007 but his mark on the industry remains. Vilmos is still working and is still a highly respected cinematographer. These two men’s work is unique and can be easily determined among filmmakers. While the general public might not realize the contributions made by them, cinematography has been defined by the two Hungarians.
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo and Vilmos premiers on the PBS series Independent Lens on Thursday, November 17, 2009 at 10 PM ET.
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