No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos | |
---|---|
Directed by | James Chressanthis |
Written by | James Chressanthis |
Produced by | James Chressanthis Tony Frere Zachary Kranzler Kian Soleimanpour |
Cinematography | Anka Malatynska |
Edited by | Elisa Bonora |
Music by | Jeffrey Kite |
Production company | NC Motion Pictures |
Distributed by | Cinema Libre Studio Cinetic Media PBS |
Release date |
|
Running time | 104 minutes |
Country | United states |
Language | English |
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos is a 2008 American documentary film written and directed by James Chressanthis. [1]
This documentary traces the careers of cinematographers László Kovács and Vilmos Zsigmond. These lifelong friends are Hungarian expatriates who had been studying cinematography in Hungary and defected following the 1956 Soviet invasion. Coincidentally, they also photographed many of the tumultuous events during the invasion.
Michael Goldman, of the Los Angeles Times, described their introduction to America:
The documentary chronicles their careers with numerous clips and testimonials from Peter Bogdanovich, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock, Tatum O'Neal, Sharon Stone and Barbra Streisand and others.
One of the motivations for making the documentary was "[t]he one-two punch of Altman's death in 2006 and the onset of health problems for Mr. Kovacs ultimately spurred Mr. Chressanthis and his co-producers to bring the two men together again — this time in front of a camera — and have them tell their tale." Director James Chressanthis studied under both Kovacs and Zsigmond. [3]
Some critics noted that the film is more than about Zsigmond and Kovacs' work. Michael Goldman said, "As much as No Subtitles Necessary documents the professional successes of these cinematographers, it's mainly about their profound friendship and devotion to each other. Near the end of the documentary, Audrey Kovács illustrates that point, insisting that while she lost her husband in 2007, she isn't in fact his only widow. 'Frankly, I think that László had one widow, and it's Vilmos,' she sighs. 'I think they were as close as two men could ever be.'" [4]
Rob Nelson, film critic for Variety magazine liked the documentary and said, "Still inadequately renowned for having literally supplied the pictures, gritty and pretty, of the 1970s New Hollywood, Hungary-born lensers Vilmos Zsigmond and the late Laszlo Kovacs are warmly illuminated in No Subtitles Necessary. Spanning the pair's half-century-long friendship and individual work on strikingly shot films of the past four decades, pic deftly combines personal, political and cinematic histories through anecdote-laden interviews and eye-popping clips. Docu would naturally light up any serious fest worldwide, while its humanistic ode to the lensers' love of their families, their collaborators and each other gives it a shot at even wider exposure." [5]
In his review of the film/DVD, critic Kevin Jagernauth, discussed the Hollywood contacts and film shoots that helped the cinematographers careers in the early days. He wrote of Vilmos, "For Zsigmond, it would be Robert Altman's anti-western McCabe & Mrs. Miller that would bring him fame. For anyone who has seen the film, the entire mood is set by the cinematographer's gauzy lensing of the interiors, and his uncomprosing camerawork with the exteriors. Robert McLachlan ( Final Destination 3 , Cursed ) recalls being on the set, and being amazed that what he saw with his own eyes and on the big screen couldn't be more different, inspiring him to follow his own path to becoming a cinematographer." [6]
Visions of Light is a 1992 documentary film directed by Arnold Glassman, Todd McCarthy and Stuart Samuels. The film covers the art of cinematography since the conception of cinema at the turn of the 20th century. It features numerous filmmakers and cinematographers as interview subjects, presenting their views and discussing the importance of cinematography in the craft of filmmaking.
László KovácsASC was a Hungarian-American cinematographer who was influential in the development of American New Wave films in the 1970s, collaborating with directors including Peter Bogdanovich, Richard Rush, Dennis Hopper, Norman Jewison, and Martin Scorsese. Known for his work on Easy Rider (1969) and Five Easy Pieces (1970), Kovács was the recipient of numerous awards, including three Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was an active member of the American Society of Cinematographers and was a member of the organization's board of directors.
Blow Out is a 1981 American neo-noir mystery thriller film written and directed by Brian De Palma. The film stars John Travolta as Jack Terry, a movie sound effects technician from Philadelphia who, while recording sounds for a low-budget slasher film, unintentionally captures audio evidence of an assassination involving a presidential hopeful. Nancy Allen stars as Sally Bedina, a young woman involved in the crime. The supporting cast includes John Lithgow and Dennis Franz. The film's tagline in advertisements was, "Murder has a sound all of its own".
Albert Victor Adamson Jr. was an American filmmaker and actor known as a prolific director of B-grade horror and exploitation films throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Inside Moves is a 1980 American drama film directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson, based on the novel of the same name by Todd Walton. The film stars John Savage, David Morse, Diana Scarwid, and Amy Wright. At the 53rd Academy Awards, Scarwid was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
Vilmos Zsigmond was a Hungarian-American cinematographer. His work in cinematography helped shape the look of American movies in the 1970s, making him one of the leading figures in the American New Wave movement.
Lajos Koltai, ASC, HSC, is a Hungarian cinematographer and film director best known for his work with legendary Hungarian director István Szabó, and Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000 for his work on the film Malèna.
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N Roll Generation Saved Hollywood is a book by Peter Biskind, published by Simon & Schuster in 1998. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls is about the 1960s and 1970s Hollywood, a period of American film known for the production of such films such as The Godfather,The Godfather Part II,The French Connection,Chinatown,Taxi Driver,Jaws,Star Wars,The Exorcist, and The Last Picture Show. The title is taken from films which bookend the era: Easy Rider (1969) and Raging Bull (1980). The book follows Hollywood on the brink of the Vietnam War, when a group of young Hollywood film directors known as the "movie brats" are making their names. It begins in the 1960s and ends in the 1980s.
The Long Goodbye is a 1973 American neo-noir film directed by Robert Altman, adapted by Leigh Brackett from Raymond Chandler's 1953 novel of the same name. The film stars Elliott Gould as Philip Marlowe and features Sterling Hayden, Nina Van Pallandt, Jim Bouton, Mark Rydell, and an early, uncredited appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession is a 2004 documentary film about Los Angeles pay cable channel Z Channel which was directed by Xan Cassavetes, daughter of Hollywood director and actor John Cassavetes. It was screened out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
John Ira BaileyASC was an American cinematographer and film director known for his collaborations with directors Paul Schrader, Lawrence Kasdan, Michael Apted, and Ken Kwapis. In August 2017, Bailey was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was succeeded by casting director David Rubin in August 2019.
József S. Mikó Joseph Miko was a cinematographer in Hungary when the 1956 revolution against the Russian occupation broke out. Miko grabbed the opportunity to film the revolution in hopes of getting the films out of Hungary so the rest of the world could see the brutality of the Soviet Union. The Soviet government found out about his activities and they wanted him and the films he shot. Joseph Miko with wife Eva and Joe jr. fled the country to avoid capture, imprisonment and possible execution.
The Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest is an educational institution founded in 1865 in Budapest, Hungary. It became a university in 2000 and the name was changed to University of Theatre and Film Arts.
Klaudia Kovács is a Hungarian film and theater director, known for her documentary Torn from the Flag.
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks is a 2014 Hungarian-American comedy-drama film starring Gena Rowlands and Cheyenne Jackson alongside a supporting cast including Jacki Weaver, Rita Moreno, Julian Sands and Anthony Zerbe. The film was adapted by Richard Alfieri from his play of the same name and directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman. It was the final film of director of photography Vilmos Zsigmond, who died two years after the film's release in 2016 and last film of Rowlands before she retired in 2015, followed by her death in 2024.
Gabor N. Forgacs is a Hungarian film director, producer, cinematographer, and he also serves as the chairman of Parabel Filmstudio. In a career of more than two decades, he is best known for film The butterflies, a culture shock psychodrama which was released in summer 2013, at the 35th Moscow International Film Festival.
Jeff Kite is an American musician, composer, producer and member of the band, The Voidz.
Son of Saul is a 2015 Hungarian historical tragedy film directed by László Nemes, in his feature directorial debut, and co-written by Nemes and Clara Royer. It is set in the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II, and follows a day-and-a-half in the life of Saul Ausländer, a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando.
Peter Sorel is an American cinematic still photographer. In his 50 plus year career he has amassed over 150 credits. His most recognized images are the photographs he took on the set of the 1969 film, Easy Rider. He worked on many notable films including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Dune, Die Hard, Lolita, Frida, Life of Pi and more. He has photographed A-list actors, including Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Salma Hayek, Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Clint Eastwood and others. He is a member of the International Cinematographers Guild Local 600, and a founding member of Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers.
Woody Allen: A Documentary is a 2011 documentary television miniseries directed by Robert B. Weide about the comedian and filmmaker Woody Allen. It premiered as part of the American Masters series on PBS. The film covers Allen's career as a standup comedian, sitcom writer, film director, and film auteur. At the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, the series received two nominations: for Outstanding Documentary Series and for Directing for a Documentary Program.