Freedom's Fury

Running time: 90 mins

Cinequest is proud to have this special World Premiere of this fascinating new documentary.

It is now known as the ?Blood in the Water Match? and the focal point of one of the most politicized sports matches every played?the Hungarian water polo team collides with the world class Russian team in the 1956 Olympic Games.

In 1956, the people of Hungary took to the streets in revolt, asserting their independence from Russian rule under the Iron Curtain. Led by their courageous leader, Imre Nagy, Hungary experienced a brief period of freedom, before being brutally overtaken by Russian tanks in the streets. A mere two weeks after the Russian Army crushed the popular uprising; the Hungarian water polo team was set to defend their gold medal in Olympic Games taking place in Australia.

And as Hungary?s young and innocent polo star, Ervin Zador, finds that he has become the unwilling subject in a game which has been politicized far beyond the sport itself, he is confronted with a life changing decision?whether to defect or return home to Hungary..

The events of that fateful fall unfold with precision in Colin Keith Gray?s hard-hitting film. Film clips of the Hungarian Revolution and the Olympic games are interwoven with interviews of surviving participants of both events in a fascinating study of the human spirit. And as we witness the collapse of Communism in 1989, it is clear that all those who resisted in 1956, be they marchers or sportsmen, were instrumental in bringing hope for freedom to all those around the world fighting oppression.

Sandy Wolf

Preceded by: Still Life; dir. Jon Knautz; 9min; Stopping in a small town a young man discovers the towns people are mannequins. Not all is what it seems.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION