Stratagem

The story played by civilian players is laid in a Transdanubian village, where on the initiative of the municipality doctor the local inhabitants wish to build a social welfare home as volunteers, with the support of the local co-operative and the state farm. Having first consented to the plan, the leadership of the county starts opposing the project because of the plan to build a social welfare home called the City of the Happy Aged to be established by the county. Both parties take the field for their ideas and the battle starts.

Directed by István Dárday, Györgyi Szalai, Stratagem leans on a strong ensemble — Ida Piri, Tivadar Kovács, Kálmán Fehér — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1980.