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.
Directed 37
2010s
- 2017
Aurora Borealis: Northern Light
Director
- 2015
My Mother's Letters to Stalin
Director
- 2012
2000s
- 2009
Last Report on Anna
Director
- 2004
The Unburied Man
Director
- 2001
The Miraculous Mandarin
Director
1990s
- 1999
Daughters of Fortune
Director
- 1996
The Seventh Room
Director
- 1994
Fetus
Director
- 1993
Edith and Marlene
Director
- 1990
Diary for My Father and My Mother
Director
1980s
- 1989
- 1987
Diary for My Loves
Director
- 1984
Diary for My Children
Director
- 1983
The Land of Mirage
Director
- 1981
A Mother, a Daughter
Director
- 1980
The Inheritance
Director
1970s
- 1979
On the Move
Director
- 1978
Just Like at Home
Director
The Two of Them
Director
- 1976
Nine Months
Director
- 1975
Adoption
Director
- 1974
At the End of September
Director
- 1973
Riddance
Director
- 1972
At the Lőrinc Spinnery
Director
- 1970
Don’t Cry, Pretty Girls!
Director
1960s
- 1969
Binding Sentiments
Director
- 1968
The Girl
Director
In Memoriam László Mészáros
Director
- 1965
Blow-Ball
Director
- 1962
Care and Affection
Director
- 1961
Heartbeat
Director
- 1960
Salesmanship
Director
1950s
- 1959
Tomorrow's Shift
Director
- 1958
Women of Today
Director
- 1957
Let All Children Smile
Director
- 1955
Everyday Stories
Director
Wrote 27
2010s
- 2017
Aurora Borealis: Northern Light
Writer
- 2012
2000s
- 2004
The Unburied Man
Screenplay
1990s
- 1999
Daughters of Fortune
Screenplay
- 1996
The Seventh Room
Screenplay
- 1994
Fetus
Writer
- 1990
Diary for My Father and My Mother
Writer
1980s
- 1989
- 1987
Diary for My Loves
Writer
- 1984
Diary for My Children
Writer
- 1981
A Mother, a Daughter
Writer
- 1980
The Inheritance
Writer
1970s
- 1979
On the Move
Writer
- 1978
Just Like at Home
Writer
The Two of Them
Screenplay
- 1976
Nine Months
Screenplay
- 1975
Adoption
Writer
- 1973
Riddance
Writer
- 1972
At the Lőrinc Spinnery
Writer
1960s
- 1969
Binding Sentiments
Screenplay
- 1968
The Girl
Writer
In Memoriam László Mészáros
Screenplay
- 1965
Blow-Ball
Writer
- 1961
Heartbeat
Writer
1950s
- 1959
Tomorrow's Shift
Screenplay
- 1957
Let All Children Smile
Screenplay
- 1955
Everyday Stories
Writer
Camera 2
1970s
- 1975
Adoption
Director of Photography
Acted in 1
2000s
- 2002
Notes in Lifestyle Margins
Movie
Appearances4
2010s
- 2010
Negative history of Hungarian cinema
Self
2000s
- 2006
Still Alive: A Film About Krzysztof Kieslowski
Self
1970s
- 1979
Márta Mészáros: Portrait of the Hungarian Filmmaker
Self
- 1975
