kincsem—bet on revenge
december 2018
Photo: MNF
It’s Christmas time! Looking for a riveting period drama with non-stop action and fun? Well, then Kincsem would be your flick. Directed by Gabor Herendi and set in the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the 19th century, some have compared the film to works by Baz Luhrmann. I’m not sure about that, but colorful it definitely was, with a plot that will keep you engaged for all 121 minutes.
Born into an aristocratic family, Ernő Blaskovich (Ervin Nagy) witnesses the death of his father after the 1848 Revolution and is left only with the memory of his murder by Count Otto von Oettingen, who then takes up residence in young Blaskovich's estate with his daughter, Klara von Oettingen (Andrea Petrik).
Years later, Blaskovich seems to be dead set on throwing away his life (and any money) to girls, booze, more girls… oh and dueling. And betting on racehorses! The movie’s plot thickens as Blaskovich sets upon a plot to take back everything from von Oettingen and have his revenge—a plan that intertwines him with a legendary racehorse as well as the very daughter of the man who ruined him.
Kincsem set records at the box office here in Hungary and for good reason. Even if you don’t like horses or horse racing, this is a fast-paced adventure filled with lavish costumes, decadent parlor scenes, and duels. It also tells a story of a man and his horse that is dear to the core. Kincsem is based on Hungary's famous racehorse from this time, but in fact, the hero is not really the horse. It is the cat!
Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!
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