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6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Az okos mama remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have seventy minutes to spare and don't mind squinting at sketchy subtitles, Az okos mama is a total trip. It is perfect for anyone who loves old-school European comedies where everyone talks at the exact same time. But if you hate loud, theatrical screeching or old movie audio hiss, please stay far away. 🤫
Honestly, I only clicked on this because of Gyula Kabos. He has this face that looks like a permanently disappointed potato, and his nervous energy is just unmatched. 🥔
The whole thing plays out like a stage play where the doors never stop slamming. The setup is simple: a clever mother meddles in everyone's love lives, causing absolute chaos.
There is a scene about twenty minutes in where Kabos tries to explain a misunderstanding. He waves his hands so fast they actually get blurry on the low-res digital transfer I found.
It reminded me a bit of the frantic relationship drama in How Shall I Tell My Husband?, but with way more shouting. Everyone in this movie seems to be on their third cup of very strong coffee.
The audio quality is pretty rough, to be fair. Sometimes the background music swells up so loud you can barely hear the actors arguing about some missing money.
"A mother always knows, even when she is completely wrong."
I love how cheap the main living room set looks. You can practically see the wallpaper peeling near the left side of the screen during the big dinner scene.
Also, the way they pour soup in this movie is wild. Nobody actually eats; they just wave spoons around to emphasize their points.
It is definitely not a masterpiece, and some of the jokes feel incredibly dusty now. But there is a weird, warm charm to these old Hungarian talkies that you just can't replicate.
If you can find a copy with decent subs, give it a shot on a rainy Sunday afternoon.