About

Known credits:
64
Birthday:
1931-09-19
Place of birth:
Budapest, Hungary
Website:
N/A

Márta Mészáros

Overview

Márta Mészáros (born 19 September 1931) is a Hungarian screenwriter and film director. The daughter of László Mészáros, a sculptor, Mészáros began her career working in documentary film, having made 25 documentary shorts over the span of ten years. Her full-length directorial debut, Eltavozott nap/The Girl (1968), was the first Hungarian film to have been directed by a woman, and won the Special Prize of the Jury at the Valladolid International Film Festival.

Mészáros' work often combines autobiographical details with documentary footage. Prominent themes include characters' denials of their pasts, the consequences of dishonesty, and the problematics of gender. Her films often feature heroines from fragmented families, such as young girls seeking their missing parents (The Girl) or middle-aged women looking to adopt children (Adoption).

Although Mészáros has made over fifteen feature films, she is arguably best known for Diary for My Children (1984), which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. It was the first entry in a trilogy of autobiographical films which also includes Diary for my Lovers (1987) and Diary for my Father and Mother (1990).

Throughout her career, Mészáros has won the Golden Bear and the Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale; the Golden Medal at the Chicago International Film Festival; the Silver Shell at the San Sebastian International Film Festival; and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1991 she was a member of the jury at the 17th Moscow International Film Festival.

Known for

Acting
2010 Negative history of Hungarian cinema Actor Self N/A
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2005 Still Alive: A Film About Krzysztof Kieslowski Actor Self 59
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1979 Marta Meszaros: Portrait of the Hungarian Filmmaker Actor Self N/A
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Directing
2017 Aurora Borealis: Northern Light Directing Director 59
Average
2015 My Mother's Letters to Stalin Directing Director N/A
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2012 Hungary 2011 Directing Director N/A
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2009 Last Report on Anna Directing Director 59
Average
2004 The Unburied Man Directing Director 58
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2000 Little Vilma: The Last Diary Directing Director 59
Average
1999 Daughters of Fortune Directing Director 58
Average
1996 The Seventh Room Directing Director 59
Average
1994 Fetus Directing Director N/A
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1993 Edith and Marlene Directing Director N/A
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1990 Bye Bye, Red Riding Hood Directing Director 58
Average
1990 Diary for My Father and My Mother Directing Director 58
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1987 Diary for My Loves Directing Director 59
Average
1984 Vieras Directing Director N/A
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1984 Vieras Directing Director N/A
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1984 Diary for My Children Directing Director 59
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1983 The Land of Mirage Directing Director N/A
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1981 A Mother, a Daughter Directing Director N/A
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1980 The Inheritance Directing Director 59
Average
1979 On the Move Directing Director 58
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1978 Just Like at Home Directing Director 58
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1978 The Two of Them Directing Director 59
Average
1976 Nine Months Directing Director 59
Average
1975 Adoption Directing Director 59
Average
1974 At the End of September Directing Director N/A
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1973 Riddance Directing Director 58
Average
1970 Don’t Cry, Pretty Girls! Directing Director 58
Average
1969 Binding Sentiments Directing Director 59
Average
1968 The Girl Directing Director 59
Average
1968 In Memoriam László Mészáros Directing Director N/A
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1965 Blow-Ball Directing Director N/A
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1958 Women of Today Directing Director N/A
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1957 Let All Children Smile Directing Director N/A
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The Miraculous Mandarin Directing Director N/A
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Writing
2012 Hungary 2011 Writing Writer N/A
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2004 The Unburied Man Writing Screenplay 58
Average
2000 Little Vilma: The Last Diary Writing Writer 59
Average
1999 Daughters of Fortune Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1996 The Seventh Room Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1994 Fetus Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1990 Bye Bye, Red Riding Hood Writing Writer 58
Average
1990 Diary for My Father and My Mother Writing Writer 58
Average
1987 Diary for My Loves Writing Writer 59
Average
1984 Vieras Writing Writer N/A
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1984 Vieras Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1984 Diary for My Children Writing Writer 59
Average
1981 A Mother, a Daughter Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1980 The Inheritance Writing Writer 59
Average
1979 On the Move Writing Writer 58
Average
1978 Just Like at Home Writing Writer 58
Average
1978 The Two of Them Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1976 Nine Months Writing Writer 59
Average
1975 Adoption Writing Writer 59
Average
1973 Riddance Writing Writer 58
Average
1969 Binding Sentiments Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1968 The Girl Writing Writer 59
Average
1968 In Memoriam László Mészáros Writing Screenplay N/A
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1965 Blow-Ball Writing Writer N/A
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1957 Let All Children Smile Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A

Camera
2017 No Country for the Poor Camera Additional Camera N/A
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1975 Adoption Camera Director of Photography 59
Average