Movies with Hungarian ties you might have missed
If you are an older reader of our news-outlet, you might have seen some of our articles where we wrote about blockbuster movies being filmed in Hungary. One of the latest was Netflix’s hit series, The Witcher, but Hungary is getting more and more attention from small and large producing companies alike. Hungary is home to many movies’ sets, some of them you would have never guessed, but if you have an eager eye or ear, you might have spotted some Hungarian references in some of your favourite movies.
If you are re-watching The Witcher to get ready for the upcoming season or you are just amazed at the beautiful landscape some of the shots the series has, look no further, we have a guide of the Hungarian venues in the series.
Budapest and Hungary, as a whole, is a beloved destination to filmmakers. The streets and landmarks of Budapest were used in many movies and series of several different genres. Huge names like Disney and smaller companies also make use of relatively cheap labour, yet high expertise and skill. And if the producers dream big and there are no existing scenery for their vision, fear not, as Korda Studios in Etyek can build any set you can imagine.
The Last Kingdom
One of the many hit series on Netflix, The Last Kingdom also has some Hungarian connections, as the previously mentioned Korda Studios provided the main set for the series. The studio built an entire medieval townscape and thanks to the magnificent camera work, they can utilise the set for several locations in the series, and the set’s narrow alleyways and many buildings can provide for exciting imagery.
If you had a keen eye, you might have spotted a few Mangalica (a Hungarian breed of curly-haired pig) while watching the show, and if you pay close attention to detail you can see how some of the locations have very similar buildings, now you know why.
Furthermore, in season 1, episode 7, the marshlands of the Severn look suspiciously similar to the bogs in Hungary. Which turns out is Hungarian.
There was a bog near one of Korda Studios’ locations which was transformed into a fishing village you see in the show, and a nearby lake was used to record water-bound storylines. And last but not least, as the main set was in Hungary, there are many Hungarian names in the credits; they helped make the sets, props and possibly many other things so the series could be as stunning as it is.
Lucifer
First, if you have not seen the show, you should check it out, it is incredible. Second, there is an unexpected Hungarian reference in the series. Lucifer (Tom Ellis), yes, the biblical character, and Detective Decker (Lauren German) team up to solve murders. In season 4 episode 2, they are solving a murder that happened in a reality show. When the duo is told what the contents of the victim’s stomach were, it leaves Decker wondering, but Lucifer knows the answer.
They were the ingredients of the Hungarian rum balls or coconut balls (it can really go either way by the ingredients).
Lucifer also mentions that he spent quite a lot of time with Attila the Hun, who, according to some beliefs, can be related to the Hungarians. Hunor and Magor were once brothers, and they were the ancestors of the Huns and Hungarians (magyarok) according to the legend of the origin of the Hungarians.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Thanks to the addition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series to the Harry Potter universe, it is reliving its heyday. If you are fond of the books or re-watching the film series, pay close attention to the episode in the Goblet of Fire during the First Task. Harry Potter somehow was able to attend the Triwizard Tournament despite his young age.
When they determine who will need to face which breed of the dragon for their task, Harry Potter draws the Hungarian Horntail, which, according to the universe, is a particularly tough dragon to face.
Iron Man
If you are a true movie fan, you might have noticed that when the directors or screenwriters need a foreign language that not many people understand, they often turn to Hungarian. Either by having a Hungarian actor onset or teach an actor a few Hungarian lines, it is often used as an exotic or gibberish language and unfortunately usually by bad guys. One of the many cases is in the first Iron Man movie.
In the scene where Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) plans his escape, the terrorists go to the door and ask for Tony in Hungarian.
In the Hungarian dubbing of the movie, naturally, these short Hungarian lines are in a different language. If any of you are a Marvel fan as well, you might know that Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) often mention Budapest, as one of their missions took place there.
If you are curious which other movies did characters speak Hungarian, you can read this article where you will find five more to re-watch and spot the scenes.
Also, if you liked Midsommar, in this article you can find out who bought the jaw-dropping masterpiece of the movie, the flower dress which was designed by Andrea Flesch, a Hungarian designer.
And last but not least, if you want to admire one of the best Draculas in history, you can read about Béla Lugosi.
Read alsoNetflix to make a series about János Hunyadi, the world-known Hungarian military leader and governor?
Featured Image: facebook.com/TheLastKingdomOfficial/
Source: Daily News Hungary