hufilmtv1-3, Exercise 2: Reading Korhinta

Model answer (check the details):

As an official film: it is set in a village at the time of collectivisation, and its plot involves a farm cooperative, which fits the approved subject matter of the time.

As a popular romance: the story is of a young woman in love with a man her father rejects, and it is remembered for its village scenes, performances and cinematography. It was a great success with ordinary audiences and was shown abroad.

Evidence to decide: the shooting script and drafts, notes from the studio and the censors, reviews from the time (official and popular), audience figures, and what the director and writers said later. Scripts and notes show what was required, and later statements need to be set against the pressures of the time.

Careful conclusion: both readings are possible, and the film shows that a state-funded work can be both.