Underground Bands, Gypsy Jazz on Extremely Hungary Programme

Johanna

Le Poisson Rouge will host Rebel Waltz: Underground Music From Behind the Iron Curtain, on November 6 and 7. Psi Vojaci (Czech Republic), Bez ladu a skladu (Slovak Republic) and Timpuri Noi (Romania) will play on Friday. Kontroll Csoport (Hungary) and Dezerter (Poland) will perform on Saturday. Forced to play in illegal venues before 1989 and unable to travel, these bands faced oppression and censorship to make their voices heard. During the 1980s, the music of these bands served as a form of political rebellion, carrying coded messages against oppressive regimes. Twenty years later, the same music is a celebration of a successful movement for change.

 

Symphony Space will host Fire + Fire, a "historic meeting of musical sympathies when nine Hungarian Gypsy musicians meet with seven of their Black American counterparts to interrogate a history of mutual oppression and silences," according to the organisers of the concerts on November 19 and 21. "Fire + Fire...delves into the synergies of two cultures, melding musical and political expression-this taking the shape through the story of star crossed lovers caught in a weft of cultural clash and political dialogue."

 

At the end of October, the Museum of Modern Art screened an archive print of the Hungarian director Béla Tarr's landmark film Sátántangó as well as other films that inspired him and works co-produced with his production company TT FILMMŰHELY. In addition to Sátántangó, Szenvedély (Passion), directed by György Fehér; Johanna, directed by Kornél Mundruczó; Szegénylegények (The Poor Outlaws/The Round-Up), directed by Miklós Jancsó; Az amerikai anzix (American Torso), directed by Gábor Bódy; and A halál kilovagolt Perzsiából (Death Rode Out of Persia), directed by Putyi Horváth were screened.