Chickenhead
Csirkefej
Synopsis
It is a tragedy, set among low-lifes on the outskirts of Budapest. Dramatic Exchange describes it as "Widely considered to be the most important Hungarian play of the last 20 years". The odd title of the play refers in the first instance to the chicken heads that an old woman feeds to her cat. However, it can also be taken to refer more broadly to the obtuse behaviour of the main characters in the play. The play is an odd mixture of pathos and nihilism, written against the bleak background of Stalinist totalitarianism from which Hungary was emerging. As with much modern drama, there is no hero in the play. The only noble behaviour that one can find belongs to one of the characters in the past, when he was a child, but he is no longer as he was. The hint that what once existed might be achieved again is the only faint ray of hope in a very bleak view of the human condition.
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Gábor Zsámbéki
- Screenplay & Story
- György Spiró
- Original Title
- Csirkefej
- Country of Origin
- Hungary
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- Unknown
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Gábor Zsámbéki
György Spiró
Department Leadership Roster
György Spiró
Writer
Gábor Zsámbéki
Director
Csörsz, Khell
Production Design
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chickenhead
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Chickenhead about?
It is a tragedy, set among low-lifes on the outskirts of Budapest. Dramatic Exchange describes it as "Widely considered to be the most important Hungarian play of the last 20 years". The odd title of the play refers in the first instance to the chicken heads that an old woman feeds to her cat. However, it can also be taken to refer more broadly to the obtuse behaviour of the main characters in the play. The play is an odd mixture of pathos and nihilism, written against the bleak background of Stalinist totalitarianism from which Hungary was emerging. As with much modern drama, there is no hero in the play. The only noble behaviour that one can find belongs to one of the characters in the past, when he was a child, but he is no longer as he was. The hint that what once existed might be achieved again is the only faint ray of hope in a very bleak view of the human condition.
Who directed Chickenhead?
Chickenhead was directed by Gábor Zsámbéki.
Who stars in Chickenhead?
The principal cast of Chickenhead includes Hilda Gobbi, Zoltán Papp, Erika Bodnár, Vajda László, Zoltán Varga.
When was Chickenhead released and how long is it?
Chickenhead was released in 1986 with a total runtime of Unknown.