Stephen, the King

The film comes from a rock opera staged in Hungary. Levente Szörényi wrote the music and János Bródy the words; the subject is the life of the Hungarian ruler known as Saint Stephen. The story came from Miklós Boldizsár’s play Ezredforduló, and Boldizsár also took part in writing the libretto. The work was first staged in the open air in Budapest in 1983. Gábor Koltay filmed that staging in 1984 and the music was released separately as an album. The work drew great interest and is still loved in Hungary and among Hungarian communities in the neighbouring countries. Carrying a story of national founding onto the stage with rock music is its most marked quality. László Pelsőczy, Miklós Varga and Gyula Vikidál appear in the ninety three minute Hungarian film, completed in 1984.