László Hlatky

A few days from a daily life of a regular school in Hungary during fifties.

Nagy István, the formerly poor peasant boy returns to his native village as a teacher. His conviction is that the abyss between rich and poor can be diminished by good will. The rich Böröcz Horváth Klári returns his love, and also Böröcz Horváth is willing to help the poorest family, the Bakos. Bakos Jóska, who was sent to serve the tough Böröcz Horváth as a payment, dies of an infected wound and the people in the village hold the teacher liable as well. Nagy István realises, that the abyss cannot be ceased, what is more, it is impassable. He breaks up with his fiancée and stands by the side of the poor.

The "sleepless years" in this propaganda piece by director Felix Marlassy occur on Csepel Island, an island south of Budapest that is home to an armaments factory. The factory workers are shown being exploited by imperialists, capitalists gone berserk, and fascists, more or less in that exact chronological sequence. The heavy-handed approach does much to undercut the belief that when socialism finally takes over, the lives of the workers are brought up to a human level. In this instance, audiences might prefer a more nuanced and subtle statement, no matter what the message.

The old, sickly Demeter Lapussa is a tyrant in the family. He forces his granddaughter, the beautiful Henriette, to marry baron Hátszegi, although the girl loves the penniless Vámhidy Szilárd. The two lovers attempt to commit suicide, then are torn away from each other.

The composer Berki András, in his co-tenancy noisy with the barking of dogs and the hullabaloo of children, is unable to compose the new song for his fiancée, the singer, although the premiere is near. He cannot believe his eyes as he sees the official decision that he will soon get an apartment on his own. Yet his joy is soon over. The pharmacist Ács Éva arrives with identical documents. The situation which evolves as a result of the new co-tenancy forces them to cover up things before their partners.

A young peasant boy stands up to tyranny, aided by his trusting friend- a goose.

This propaganda film from the early years of socialist transformation in Hungary depicts kulak sabotage in production cooperatives. The prosperous peasant Ignatz Hato, one of the best farmers in the village, joins the Two Octobers cooperative, and soon all the small peasants follow him. The village rich, led by Lili Sohar, watching the great expansion of the cooperative, try to break up the cooperators with each other. Sohar's attempt bears fruit and Hato leaves the cooperative. Next, Lili Sohar tries to convince Ignatz Hato that she is planning to create a rival team of new rich people and urges him to join her. Ignatz refuses and does not give in to the blackmail. Lili's lover, a former gendarme, shoots party secretary Bozhine. At the wounded Božine's bedside, Ignác admits his mistake and asks to be accepted back into the cooperative. Sándor, the president of the cooperative, realizes that the collective should not prevent those who want to work honestly from joining.

About the life of young people in Hungary in the late 50s, their joys, hopes and dreams. When Joly entered the factory, she wanted to be as cheerful and carefree as the other girls, and she didn't tell anyone that she had a son. And now, when the wedding day with Ferenc is almost set, Yoli walks around sad and confused. She doesn't know how Feri will take the news of her son. She is afraid that Feri, who loves and trusts her very much, will never understand or forgive her. But Feri turns out to be a real man, and Yoli together with little Ali finds her true happiness.