The Stationmaster Meets His Match (1980 TV Movie) User Reviews

Rural life between the two World Wars through the eyes of a small boy.

[mp01-1 · 9/10 · 19 March 2006]

I'm not sure if being Hungarian is the key to enjoy this film. It certainly has a milieu very peculiar to this part of the world (yes, I'm Hungarian too). But that may also appeal to viewers from other countries in the same region. The language, the events and the characters are a classic portrayal of rural life but one that belongs in a long lost era. Thus, it is even alien to most Hungarian people. However, most people, even though born long after the time the film is set, like myself, enjoy the film to this day. So I suppose a familiarity with the conditions and history of Hungary between the two World Wars may come in handy, I still feel the film, when dubbed, could be enjoyed by a wider audience. I accept of course that it will have completely different meaning than what it means to the Hungarian.

This movie made me laugh so hard, it hurt!!!!!!!!

[eni_hall · 10/10 · 15 June 2006]

I read the book and saw the movie many times. It's just hilarious. We can all relate to the cute little kid, Bendeguz, who sees people's shortcomings so accurately and shares them with us in such a genuinely sweet and funny way. The dialogs capture a child's sense of humor and reminds us what it is like to be a kid living in the grown-up's world. You also see rural life during the early 20th century Hungary, which was simplistic but eventful. Bendeguz's mischiefs are so funny, they make any viewer laugh regardless of his or her nationality. This movie will touch you, make you laugh and you'll definitely want your kids to see it. Watch this movie anytime, especially when you feel sad and it will cheer you up and remind you of the preciousness of life.

Knowing Hungary (being Hungarian) is the key to enjoy this film

[dop-82 · 10/10 · 20 December 2005]

Dear Non-Hungarian Readers/Movie Watchers!

I am really sad to say, but I think this film was made only for Hungarian people. I respect Non-Hungarians who try to understand this movie, but I'm sure they wont. Even not if they read the book, tried to study the language... I don't want to hurt anybody... The characters use an accent that is funny on its own. Bendeguz is a 'Hungarian farmer' (Paraszt) kid with a very simple but totally positive view of the world - and has conflicts with people who don't have the same emotions. These conflicts and his tactics to avoid them - or cause them - are really fun. But for Foreigners, this film is a nice memorial of the Hungarian farmer-society and its life between the two World Wars, and I guess nothing more.

One of the BEST movies from Hungary ever made

[maratonmaraton · 10/10 · 29 August 2017]

I watched this movie many times and I was curious what kind of comments are here at IMDb on the movie. The acting was perfect and as simple as it could be. The boy was incredible, he was so natural that he needed NOT to play the role. he was himself all the time. The rest of the actors were also a good base to the whole movie. It is so much hilarious that I was LOL -ed every time I watched this movie. Most probably the feeling will be different in any other languages than Hungarian. I give a rating 10, just perfect in any sense and I don't mind who says what on this movie. I feel sorry for all those who don't speak Hungarian, they will not get the absolute perfection of this art of moving picture. A brilliant gem from Hungary. Blessed by living on the border of Serbia and Hungary that I speak the language and it made my day every time!

I'm not Hungarian, but this is still bonkers entertainment!

[slowcando · 6/10 · 1 May 2015]

I really rate Kontroll, and liked Szomorú Vasárnap too, so was looking forward to another Hungarian picture, but there was no way that those two films would prepare me for the raw slapstick of Indul a Bakterház! I must admit to being caught offguard: the first half-hour I had no clue what I was watching, the poor audio re-dubbing of the original language didn't help. Eventually I got bedded in and ended up enjoying the unfolding chaos, with its memorably-bonkers characters - who are apparently not as exaggerated as one might think! - and well-played main role from the übercheeky young lad.

6/10 is the minimum rating I give for films I would consider worth watching: there might not have been much else to Indul a Bakterház, but it's worth enough for most of you to have a go.

So recommended if you're interested in foreign films which show you hidden elements of their culture using daft comedy (in this case eccentric village farm hands from bygone days), without any concession to outsiders. Imagine showing Benny Hill & League of Gentlemen to a native Hungarian...you get the idea.

Not particularly recommended if you're looking for more universally-appreciable examples of Hungarian cinema.

A foreigner's perspective

[sajidfootball · 5/10 · 28 March 2020]

The movie was just not interesting or funny at all for a non-Hungarian guy like me. The only thing that I loved about the film was the physical comedy. The protagonist was just a brat and there was absolutely no direction to the storyline.

A waste of good comedians

[Mort-31 · 4/10 · 6 January 2002]

This television version of Sándor Rideg's nationwide bestseller `Indul a bakterház' seems to be made exclusively for people who have read the book. I did so, but I still found the TV-movie rather poor. It features only those elements of the book that contribute to the storyline but the storyline is the least important quality of Rideg's book. Everything that could be funny (and that's what `Indul a bakterház' is supposed to be in the first place) is left out or reduced, so only those can laugh who have read the book and are, by the film scenes, reminded of it. I don't know whether this is the sense of a film, and, as I had read the book quite some months before, it didn't work with me either.

My criticism refers to the producers, the director and the bad sound quality (it really disturbs one if the synchronization isn't professionally done), but it doesn't concern the actors. Their performances are immaculate without exception, and they do really good jobs in portraying Rideg's characters, although had created them all rather excessive and stylized. Just as many other films based on bestsellers this one wastes many stars, many good comedians, especially Róbert Koltai, to raise expectations which are then disappointed. They didn't take much trouble to make this.