“Nusika, you want some meat?”
Nostalgia is always nice on a chilly evening. As soon as the room is quiet and the air outside is fresh, the memories and films that live deep in our hearts come to the fore.
One such film, which deservedly became a cult hit in Hungary in the 1990s, is Sose halunk meg (We Will Never Die). A film that makes you laugh, makes you think and reminds you what it means to survive, to love and never give up.
This film is about survival. In the words of screenwriter Gábor Nógrádi: “Whatever it is, if he has no money, he gives you the watch, if he loses the watch, he promises you 1000 forints. […] So it was survival that appealed to the audience, because the Hungarian nation is the Olympic champion in survival.”
This kind of survival is not only material but also spiritual. For the Hungarians, survival is an inner, almost instinctive process that permeates all aspects of life – and the character of Uncle Gyuszi embodies this perfectly. In the most pleasant version possible, if we want to survive. That would be the goal, wouldn’t it?
The story centres on a young boy, Imi, who discovers the hidden beauties and challenges of life alongside Uncle Gyuszi.
Uncle Gyuszi’s serene philosophy of life, full of small pleasures and never giving up, teaches the boy that life is not only to be endured, but also to be enjoyed.
And why choose suffering when you can laugh instead?
“There is no such thing as not knowing. Try once, try twice, try a hundred times. And if you still can’t, then maybe you can say, “I don’t know now.”
– says Uncle Gyuszi, who chooses a positive attitude in every situation in life. This is the strategy he passes on to Imi, who, as a young man, encounters difficulties that make him more and more of a man.
Never Die is a nostalgia film, and as such it can often be accused of embellishing the past. Indeed, Róbert Koltai’s direction is charming, endearing, perhaps idealised at times, but one cannot ignore the reality of socialist Hungary that often peeks out from behind the serene surface. The film is full of funny, amusing sketches that follow the classic patterns of initiation stories, but the world of gambling addicts, down-and-out champions and people living their lives in hopelessness is also there in the background. Uncle Gyuszi, however, refuses to let these negatives blight his life and passes on this optimism to his young nephew.
The film’s humour also holds a special place in the hearts of Hungarian viewers. Uncle Gyuszi’s witty, sometimes cheeky remarks both make us laugh and teach us about life. We hear it in one of his iconic dialogues:
– What is it, Boldika? Dostoyevsky’s going, are you coming?
– Tell your nephew not to look at my wife like that!
– Why? (turns to Imi) How do you look, little father?
– You know that very well.
– Why do you always carry Nusika around with you?
– That’s my job. That’s none of your business. Is that clear?
– Like a blind window! But if you carry sausages in your satyr, don’t be surprised if the dogs run after you!
It is this raw yet good humour that makes Uncle Gyuszi endearing. We live in a world where people often complain about life, but Uncle Gyuszi never does. Even in the most difficult situations, he finds something to laugh about, something small to get through the day. And it’s this outlook on life that Imi learns along the way. If only everyone had an Uncle Gyuszi, right?
The film shows a deep, honest relationship between a boy and his uncle, while revealing the important role of family in growing up. After the suffocating care of his parents, Imi is given free rein with Uncle Gyuszi, who is not afraid to defy social conventions. While letting his nephew in on the (hidden) secrets of the world – be it love, work or simply life’s little pleasures – Uncle Gyuszi constantly teaches the youngster that life is worth enjoying, even if we sometimes (or often) face difficulties.
The film’s memorable dialogues reflect the reality of the times. When Imi asks her uncle, “Uncle Gyuszi, are you Jewish?”the answer is: “Sometimes, Dad, sometimes. Sometimes, sometimes. He who hears everything dies soon.” This simple statement is a perfect reflection of the social stratification of the time, but it is also a humorous way of showing that not everything should be taken to heart. What is what is, is what is…
Never Die is not only a film about survival and growing up, but also a profound social and historical imprint, in which humanity, humour and joie de vivre are present throughout. It is a film that was able to speak to the entire Hungarian nation, because it revealed our common stories, our struggles and our desires.
As Uncle Gyuszi would say:
“Jókai, Tolstoy, phosphorus in my buttocks.”
And perhaps that’s as serious as we should take everyday life.
Aletta Nagy-Kozma
