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Mephisto (1981 film)

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Mephisto
Hungarian release poster
Directed byIstván Szabó
Screenplay byPéter Dobai
István Szabó
Story byPéter Dobai
Based onMephisto
by Klaus Mann
Produced byManfred Durniok
StarringKlaus Maria Brandauer
Krystyna Janda
Ildikó Bánsági
Rolf Hoppe
Martin Hellberg
CinematographyLajos Koltai
Edited byZsuzsa Csákány
Music byZdenko Tamássy
Production
company
Distributed byAnalysis Film Releasing Corporation (U.S.)
Release dates
  • 11 February 1981 (1981-02-11) (Budapest premiere)
  • 29 April 1981 (1981-04-29) (West Germany)
  • 8 October 1981 (1981-10-08) (Hungary)
Running time
144 minutes
CountriesHungary
Austria
West Germany
LanguageGerman

Mephisto is a 1981 German-language political drama film co-written and directed by István Szabó, and based on the novel of the same name by Klaus Mann. It stars Klaus Maria Brandauer as a German stage actor (modelled on Gustaf Gründgens) who finds unexpected success and mixed blessings in the popularity of his performance in a Faustian play as the Nazis take power in pre-Second World War Germany. As his associates and friends flee or are forced underground by the Nazi regime, the popularity of his character ends up superseding his own existence, until he finds that his best performance is keeping up appearances for his Nazi patrons.

The film was a co-production of Hungarian, Austrian, and West German studios; starring German and Hungarian-speaking actors. It premiered in Budapest on 11 February 1981 and received widespread acclaim from critics, winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film, the first Hungarian picture to do so.[1] Brandauer's performance earned him many accolades, including BAFTA and German Film Award nominations and launched his film career.

Plot

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Cast

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Reception

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The film was the highest-grossing Hungarian film in the United States and Canada with a gross of $3.9 million.[2]

Awards and nominations

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Award Category Year Nominee Result
Academy Awards Best Foreign-Language Film[3] 1982 Hungary Won
BAFTA Awards Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles 1982 Klaus Maria Brandauer Nominated
Bambi Award Best Actor (National) 1983 Won
Cannes Film Festival[4] Palme d'Or 1981 István Szabó Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
FIPRESCI Prize Won
David di Donatello Best Foreign Film 1982 Won
Best Foreign Director Nominated
Best Foreign Actor Klaus Maria Brandauer Won
German Film Award Best Actor in a Leading Role 1983 Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Rolf Hoppe Nominated
London Critics Circle Film Award Foreign Language Film of the Year 1983 Mephisto Won
National Board of Review[5] Best Foreign Language Film 1982 Won

Mephisto was the first Hungarian film to win the Foreign Language Oscar, and the only one until Son of Saul won in 2016.[6] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 76% based on 25 reviews, with an average score of 7.40/10.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Cunningham, John (2014). The Cinema of István Szabó: Visions of Europe. New York City: Columbia University Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-231-17199-1.
  2. ↑ "Pix from afar: National bests in the U.S.". Variety. January 7, 1991. p. 86.
  3. ↑ "The 54th Academy Awards (1982) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  4. ↑ "Festival de Cannes: Mephisto". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  5. ↑ "1982 Award Winners". National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "The 54th Academy Awards (1982) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  7. ↑ "Mephisto - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. 1982-03-22. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
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