My 20th Century

My 20th Century is an enchanting tapestry of visual and narrative brilliance made in 1989. The film is a remarkable work of Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi, starring many unique talents such as Dorota Segda, Oleg Yankovskiy, and Paulus Manker. The movie, known as Az én XX. Századom in Hungary, is a perfect blend of science and magic, history and fiction, and realism and surrealism.

The movie is a cinematic delight that transports the audience to the turn of the 20th century, keen on artfully depicting the modern age's birth – a time that proved to be of great change and innovation. Various elements in the film symbolize this era of transformation, such as the reference to Edison’s electric light, representing the scientific inventions of that age, or the newly developed style of art, cinema. These references create an enthralling jumble of history and fantasy.

At its heart, My 20th Century is a story about twin sisters Dóra and Lili, both roles nimbly portrayed by Dorota Segda. They were separated as young children after the untimely death of their mother and led extremely diametric lives. Dóra grows up to be a romantic and superficial woman, reveling in the glitzy world of luxury and men's adoration. On the other hand, Lili is a wild-eyed, motivated woman working as a revolutionary anarchist, utterly committed to fighting for justice and breaking the oppressive chains of society.

Their separate paths finally collide when they unknowingly fall for the same man, Z (played by Oleg Yankovskiy), a wealthy and somewhat eccentric man who is wistful for the simpler times before the modern era came sweeping in. As they go about their lives, the twins’ paths constantly overlap and intersect, bringing them face to face with their drastically contrasting ideologies.

Bridge-obsessed Z is an enthusiast of the simpler times, before the modern world came in and swept away the old. Eventually, he meets the twins and unable to differentiate between them, mistakes them for the same woman. He mirrors the viewer’s perception of the twin sisters, who are the same yet so different, as one woman.

Enyedi brings this engrossing tale to life through a series of evocative images that feel part dream, part reality. The images are often presented in an out-of-focus, surrealistic light, reflecting the dreamlike aura of the time period in which the film is set. They blend seamlessly with the narrative, highlighting the director's brilliantly creative eye and inventive mind.

Sanctified by the magnificent frames crafted by Tibor Máthé, the movie astonishes with its innovative use of cinematography. Combined with the lustrous performances of its stellar cast, this cinematic masterpiece paints a bewitching portrait of an epoch marked with innovation and change.

My 20th Century has a captivating charm that stems from its nowhere-else-seen amalgamation of drama, comedy, romance and politically themed narrative. It presents an awe-inspiring blend of eccentric storytelling structure, with an intricate web of allegorical content, which can be a satisfying challenge to the brain for any avid film enthusiast.

Furthermore, the film serves as a trenchant commentary on gender discussion as well. Enyedi seamlessly weaves feminism into the twins’ story, particularly through Lili’s anarchist ideas about emancipation and Dora's luxuriant lifestyle – a decision that strikes a poignant balance between the period’s traditional and evolving role of women in society.

A whimsical, philosophical exploration of life, love, freedom, and the dawning of a new age, My 20th Century is a thrilling journey into history and fiction. It is simultaneously straightforward and labyrinthine, joyful and melancholic, and deeply insightful in its portrayal of the human condition amid a rapidly changing world.

In essence, My 20th Century is an alluring enigma that demands multiple viewings to ruminate upon its hidden layers and nuances. It leaves an unforgettable imprint and encourages viewers to dive into its luxurious landscapes filled with poetic musings, sociopolitical reflections, and richly personable stories. It is an esoteric gem that appeals to the dreamer in every movie-lover.