Names are running in the opening credits. Gregory Peck. The dashing young man is already a star by 1953, with more than a dozen films to his name. Successful films. But who on earth is Audrey Hepburn? A young starlet given her first leading role. Let's see what she makes of it. Towards the end of the opening credits, a caption: "This film was photographed and recorded in its entirety in Rome, Italy”. An important message, because for eighty years Hollywood filmmakers rarely left their studios, let alone their country. Let's make it clear also that Rome is protagonist in this film.

According to the plot, heir apparent Princess Ann arrives in Rome on her European tour. She escapes from the boring protocol engagements and immerses herself in the city as a normal, ordinary girl. (Ending up in the arms of a dashing man soon enough). Our heroine is picked up by a handsome American journalist who guides her through the eternal city on a hectic, but amusing adventure: The Colosseum, Castel Sant'Angelo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain (Audrey Hepburn doesn't take a dip, contrary to Anita Ekberg seven years later, but she does end up in the Tiber River after an altercation.) William Wyler's movie somehow became a cult film. Many a plant has sprouted from Italian roots across the pond, but this movie really took you on a spectacular Roman holiday at the time. Bear in mind that most people were not globe-trotters back then, and even science fiction authors didn't come up with the idea of budget airlines and the internet. Dalton Trumbo's romantic story takes the characters into a world that is very different - and therefore very likeable. What makes it even more exciting is that images and scenes from the film have since made it into other movies. You may get the feeling sometimes that even Italian directors were influenced by them. These are different times, though. Fellini's Roma is riddled with traffic jams and scooters have been replaced by roaring motorcycles.

In English, with Hungarian subtitles.
The discussions before and after the screening will be conducted in Hungarian.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest