Comments & critiques on cultural events and New York City happenings.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Hungarian doc KEEP QUIET-Anti-Semite Csanad Szegedi Jewish Identity Revealed Leads to Redemption ??
KEEP QUIET is a documentary biopic about Csanad Szegedi (b Hungary 1982) noted for hating Jews until he knew - his grandparents & mother were Jews; making him a member of the Hebraic Tribe. Szegedi is a notorious founder for the fascist, far left Jobbik political party with a strong anti-Semitic platform. The Jobbik party formed during the turbulent political climate of the early 21st C. The Jobbik party rose to popularity quickly with their comparative neo-nazi vitriol & intimidating, militaristic rituals mirroring the Nazi regime. KEEP QUIET is anything but subtle. It's a film about identity, shame, political upheaval, the Holocaust, religious convictions & redemption. Szegedi is given plenty of rope to tell his own story & hang himself with in hypocrisy. Szegedi is most candid recalling his feelings of self-importance garnered as a leader of the Jobbik party which propelled him into a seat in the European Parliament. This I believed. His ideology formed as a teen when he launched his diatribe of hatred towards the Jews. The civil unrest in Hungary was due to high unemployment & dangerous living conditions. The Hungarian Guard formed in 2007 made Jews easy scapegoats for the malaise & unrest. Blatant anti-Semitic propaganda, a growing clamor for an organized guard replete with uniforms & symbols emboldened a large population to support the Hungarian Guard & the Jobbik party. This ushered in a reign of terror to many; especially Jews. Skinheads, neo-nazi's, radicals were all welcomed to join. Having survived Auschwitz & feeling unsafe as Jews, Szededi's grandmother kept quiet about her Jewish heritage, her Holacaust experiences and her life from her beloved grandson. Szededi's mother's marriage outside the faith was a welcomed safe hold according to Csanad's grandmother when queried about her background that was kept buried. Csanad was outed by a nemesis as a Jew with proof of his lineage. Confronted with the truth, Csanad was now an outcast amongst an organization whose mission included debasing & destroying the Jews. This upsetting & compelling documentary is a triptych of the Holacaust & persecution, Csanad's self-discovery & exploration and the opportunity for redemption. The discussion between Csanad & a Holocaust survivor while visiting Auschwitz is remarkably unnerving and lends credence to Csanad's family's secrecy. Most stirring was the Orthodox Rabbi who meets with Csanad at his request & offers guidance & support for Csanad's redemption & acceptance. Many Jews are vocally opposed & adamant against Csanad feigned pleas for forgiveness. I believed Csanad to be a charlatan & his desire to change & redeem himself incredulous. When asked at the end of the film if he will always be for the Jews he tells the camera "I honestly don't know what I will do." Csanad should have kept quiet and the rabbi needs to pray fervently Csanad doesn't harbor hatred or do harm in the future.
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