Zoltán Fábri’s film Utószezon/Late Season has been selected for screening at Venice Classics, the section of the world-famous film festival in Venice presenting restored works.

“A defence is possible against all accusations, only not against self-accusation,” declared Zoltán Fábri in connection with the choice of subject. Late Season starring Antal Páger was one of the first films to examine the Holocaust-related responsibility of Hungarian society from the aspect of conscience. The director evoked the Holocaust in an unconventional, Modernist manner and in grotesque style.Late Season featured at the 1967 Venice Film Festival, where its bold topic and cast sparked intense debate. The film received both the Venice city prize and the CINEFORUM critics’ prize.

Restoration of the film was completed in 2017 within the framework of the long-term film restoration and digitization programme of the National Film Institute and as a result of the joint work of colleagues from the Film Archive and Filmlabor. The project was carried out with the cooperation of the Hungarian Society of Cinematographers and the participation of cinematographer Sándor Kardos. The restoration was also supported by the Hungarian Academy of Arts. So far, nearly 100 films have been restored within the framework of the programme.

Last year, Venice Classics screened the restored version of Sodrásban/Current by István Gaál.