The Exam

---

Order no. 16 issued by the Ministry of the

Interior of the People's Republic of Hungary

As a result of

counter-revolutionary events,

certain members of personnel

have displayed behaviour

unbefitting of communists and their

allegiance to the counter-revolution

has rendered them

unsuitable for employment

by the Ministry of the Interior.

Due to the above, the full appraisal

of all personnel is required

as well as a reduction in staff numbers,

which must be completed

no later than December31, 1957.

Hungarian Television presents

with support from the

Ministry of National Resources

the National Cultural Fund

and the Hungarian Moving Picture

Public Foundation

a Unio Film production

a film by Peter Bergendy

The Test

Production Manager

Costume Designer

Music by

Sound by

Production Designer

Edited by

Director of Photography

Producer

Written by

Directed by

What did the newspapers write

last Christmas?

The buses will run

until 6 pm from Wednesday.

Drinking is allowed

but only at home.

Why is there so little soap

and washing powder?

Thousands queue for cigarettes.

Will there be unemployment?

When will the no. 6 tram start again?

A year has passed since then

and people are once again

preparing for Christmas...

Comrade Jung.

You didn't come

to the residents meeting.

Is there a problem with my students?

Are they upsetting the residents?

I wanted to invite you over

for fish soup tonight.

I make it spicy.

I'm sorry but I'm working.

On Christmas Eve?!

That's right.

Happy holidays, Mrs. Egri.

Happy holidays.

But the festivities are

not only for the children.

Our shops have

plenty of gifts for older shoppers...

- Comrade Jung?

- Can I help you?

I'd like to study German.

I'm sorry but I'm too busy.

- They recommended you.

- I can't take any more students.

- I'll pay well.

- I'm sorry but I still can't.

How did you hear about me?

From the newspaper.

I don't advertise.

Then it must have been

from a friend. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

- Happy Christmas!

- Happy Christmas, Comrade Jung!

We have messages

from refugee Hungarians

for their families back at home.

And now for the messages...

The first is in code and it goes like this:

"Come sweetheart, come!"

This goes to Miskolc

and from Uszu to the two old girls,

who says all is well in England.

Pter wants the lame cook in Sifok

to know that he is well and in America.

To no. 25 in Tatabnya,

Bilux says he's in England.

Tomi wants Nandin to know

that Panci has arrived at the in-laws.

December 24, 1957.

Relax!

I bought the books like they told me.

Grammar book,

dictionary,

another dictionary,

work book...

Do you know who I am?

The German teacher.

And do you know what you have to do?

Learn German, no?

Only joking.

Do you live here?

I thought it would be

some ministry building

but then I saw it's

an apartment building...

This is an undercover apartment,

Comrade Radnai.

We rent it so that we can meet

in relaxed circumstances.

It obviously wouldn't be good

if your colleagues saw you

walking into a ministry building.

Obviously.

What would they think?

They wouldn't think

I was having German lessons.

When were you recruited?

November 22.

Avery convincing comrade.

For patriotic reasons?

Have I seen any of your films?

The last one was

a Szilvsi adaptation

with Ruttkai...

I can see that you haven't had

the chance to travel abroad.

That must irritate you...

I won an award in Locarno

and I couldn't accept it in person.

Do you hope it will be different now?

Do you hope you'll be able to take

revenge on a few of your colleagues?

Because if you do,

you're in the wrong place.

I hope that the time will come when

I can concentrate solely on my films.

Your code name will be Pudovkin.

You'll type your reports under that name

and bring them to me once a week

and I will forward them to the ministry.

Couldn't it be Fellini?

Fellini is already taken.

Did the convincing comrade

teach you how to write a report?

In the third person singular, one copy

and to differentiate between

the conscious enemy and the mistaken.

Excellent!

Hands up!

You idiot!

Happy Christmas!

Reports from week 50.

My timetable for week 51.

"11 am - Flea, 12- Priest."

This is London calling.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen...

"5 pm - supper with the Marks."

Janka's gone to a lot of trouble.

You busy?

I've got a

stack of reports to write.

- And I've got to refresh the agent list...

- Andris,

you can refresh it another time.

It's Christmas!

- and don't be late!

- I'll be there.

Oh, I nearly forgot this.

Janka sent it.

Thanks.

Hello.

- Hello.

- Hello.

Happy Christmas, Dad!

They reckon they found it at a

dog pound somewhere in Moscow.

What breed?

Some kind of mongrel.

It's got two big ears

and a spotty face...

About this big.

And is it up there all alone?

Yeah. In orbit.

I don't envy it.

Good morning,

Comrade Lieutenant-Colonel.

Could you be more obvious?

"5 pm-supper with the Marks."

Janka's gone to a lot of trouble.

You busy?

I've got a stack of reports to write.

- And I've got to refresh

the agent list... - Andris,

you can refresh it another time.

It's Christmas!

Comrade Jung,

I'm sorry, I hurried.

My mother isn't well.

I'll start right away.

- Sound?

- Working.

In accordance

with order no. 16, 1957 issued

by the Ministry of the Interior

of the Peoples' Republic of Hungary,

we will now commence

secret agent Andrs Jung's test.

Present are Pl Mark -test officer,

Ferenc Dohny-technician and...

Emil Kulcsr.

Emil Kulcsr.

Emil Kulcsr.

- Emil?

- Emil.

Emil Kulcsr invigilator.

Let's start.

...noodle soup, turkey

with boiled potatoes,

mashed potatoes, rice,

pickles and cucumber salad.

Everyone ate the soup except Patai.

Tbis...

ordered boiled potatoes,

Patai and Molnrhad rice,

Fekete mash. They all ate salad.

The turkey was very tasty and

they served it with little mushrooms.

The dessert was...

Who's the gourmet?

Codename Flea.

A literary foot soldier.

He's reporting on the Patai circle.

And the one at 9 o'clock?

The director?

Do you want me to rewind?

Later.

...and was there for 5 minutes.

I don't know if he met

anyone in there

but his hands were wet

when he came back.

Patai and Molnr went out for a

cigarette after the main course

and I didn't hear their conversation.

They smiled when they came in

and slapped each other on the back.

There was no mention

of politics at the table.

We talked about the food

and the weather

and Molnr made one mention...

...of the female genitalia.

PRIES:

There's no point

you protecting Father Lupics!

But he is a priest!

That means nothing...

Comrade Jung!

It's like...

...me asking you to betray

a fellow officer.

- Would you do it?

- We have an agreement, Father.

There's no need to remind me.

We're understanding

of your invalid mother...

Comrade Jung, I'm on your side.

I sometimes have my doubts.

Because I don't understand

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