Márta Mészáros

Personal Info

Known For Director

Gender Female

Birthday 1931-09-19 (93 years old)

Place of Birth Budapest, Hungary

Márta Mészáros

Biography

Márta Mészáros (born 19 September 1931) is a Hungarian screenwriter and film director. The daughter of László Mészáros, a sculptor, Mészáros began her career working in documentary film, having made 25 documentary shorts over the span of ten years. Her full-length directorial debut, Eltavozott nap/The Girl (1968), was the first Hungarian film to have been directed by a woman, and won the Special Prize of the Jury at the Valladolid International Film Festival. Mészáros' work often combines autobiographical details with documentary footage. Prominent themes include characters' denials of their pasts, the consequences of dishonesty, and the problematics of gender. Her films often feature heroines from fragmented families, such as young girls seeking their missing parents (The Girl) or middle-aged women looking to adopt children (Adoption). Although Mészáros has made over fifteen feature films, she is arguably best known for Diary for My Children (1984), which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. It was the first entry in a trilogy of autobiographical films which also includes Diary for my Lovers (1987) and Diary for my Father and Mother (1990). Throughout her career, Mészáros has won the Golden Bear and the Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale; the Golden Medal at the Chicago International Film Festival; the Silver Shell at the San Sebastian International Film Festival; and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1991 she was a member of the jury at the 17th Moscow International Film Festival.

Known For

Director

2012
Hungary 2011

as Director

2009
2004
The Unburied Man

as Director

1999
1996
The Seventh Room

as Director

1994
Fetus

as Director

1993
Edith and Marlene

as Director

1990
1987
Diary for My Loves

as Director

1984
1984
Vieras

as Director

1983
The Land of Mirage

as Director

1981
1980
The Inheritance

as Director

1979
On the Move

as Director

1978
Just Like at Home

as Director

1978
The Two of Them

as Director

1976
Nine Months

as Director

1975
Adoption

as Director

1974
1973
Riddance

as Director

1969
Binding Sentiments

as Director

1968
The Girl

as Director

1965
Blow-Ball

as Director

1958
Women of Today

as Director

1957

Writer

2012
Hungary 2011

as Writer

2004
The Unburied Man

as Screenplay

1999
Daughters of Fortune

as Screenplay

1996
The Seventh Room

as Screenplay

1994
Fetus

as Writer

1987
1984
1984
Vieras

as Writer

1981
1980
The Inheritance

as Writer

1979
On the Move

as Writer

1978
The Two of Them

as Screenplay

1978
1976
Nine Months

as Writer

1975
Adoption

as Writer

1973
Riddance

as Writer

1969
Binding Sentiments

as Screenplay

1968
The Girl

as Writer

1965
Blow-Ball

as Writer

1957

Camera

2017
No Country for the Poor

as Additional Camera

1975
Adoption

as Director of Photography