Personal Belongings

Running time: N/A

When he was in the sixth grade, Steven Bognar discovered the ultimate history report: his father's experiences in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Personal Belongings is the culmination of his research, an hour-long examination of the Hungarian Revolution's effect not only on his father but on his mother and the rest of their family. Bela Bognar teaches social work and gerontology at an Ohio college, where he also unofficially heads the Hungarian Studies program. He works hard to be "more Hungarian than any guy," but he also enjoys Monday Night Football and has failed to pass on his native language to his sons. As the thirtieth anniversary of the Revolution approaches, Bela surprises everyone by announcing his intention to commemorate the event by walking the streets of Budapest. Nevermind that in Cold War Hungary you can get arrested for even talking about the Revolution. The surprising results of this trip (and a return trip after the fall of the Berlin Wall) are revealed gradually and examined effectively in the context of Bela's past. Through the artful combination of historical footage, interviews, and home movies, Steven Bognar has created a funny, sad, and ultimately moving portrait of a man's search for something lost which may never be regained. Personal Belongings marks the feature directorial debut for Steven Bognar and was the Audience Award Winner at the 1996 Atlanta Film and Video Festival. --Rod Myers