Trianon (2005) User Reviews

A shallow documentary

[bogdanmate · 4/10 · 5 June 2017]

As a fan of history, I expected this movie to provide more details about the Treaty and its circumstances. I've been disappointed. The movie decries the loss of territories to the neighboring countries while it says absolutely nothing about the majority peoples who were living there. I wonder, how would Hungary have got along with those majorities? The single ground stated by the Magyars is that they ruled those territories for 1,000 years. Sounds like time turns a theft into a deed of ownership.

I would have made it better.

What this documentary really is about

[pavia-03973 · 17 September 2016]

Because that the Romanian commenters gave negative votes not because of the value of the film, but because their nationalistic views, that made the Hungarian commenters to give positive votes to itt o balance the films ratings. The fact that the Romanians are voting here because of their hatred, prevented a fair rating of the film, which would show the real value (be as good or bad, but strictly of its value as a film, and not nationalistic points of view of the bunch of the hatred-full commenters!) of it! Thank you Romanians! What would you say if Hungarian viewers here would start to give negative comments or ratings on your movies, which make Romanian nationalist propaganda, present the history in your point of view, and not theirs? Movies like: Dacii, Columna, Mihai Viteazu, etc? But the ratings and comments given to these movies show that the Hungarians are not chauvinists like you to waste their times in forming of internet groups who are making these kinds of comments and to „hunt" your historical movies to give them negative voting, like you do on the Hungarian films Yes this also shows who are the nationalists and creators of hatred here! And about what is this documentary film really talking about. the film is consisted from these parts:

1. It shows the historical events that led to the partition, in 1920, of Hungary in the Trianon treaty, with presenting the causes that led to this event, with the opinions of the Hungarian historians Nemeskürty István, Raffay Ernő, Fejtő Ferenc, and Glatz Ferenc. 2. The 2. and 3. parts talk about the consequences of the treaty. The fate of the Hungarian minorities which resulted from this treaty after the partition of Hungary in 1920, than the mistakes of the Hungarian governments in entering the 2. world war. 3. The 3. part is about what happened afterwards until the film was made. In these parts the politicians and priests like Tőkés László, Duray Miklós és Pozsgay Imre are speaking. Here the fate of the Hungarian minorities is presented and how Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, etc are treating the Hungarian minorities, trying to assimilate them and preventing them to express their national identity.

In the film you can find also some songs and reciting of poems from Hungarian poets. Although the film has its obvious weak parts (for example, being a more than 10 hours film, it had to be reduced in a 2 hours variant, and this can be feel, or the inclusion of songs and poems which is not suitable for a documentary film), but these are not why the Romanian commenters are condemning it: their only purpose is to express their hatred, which by some of the comments even goes as far as expressing racist opinions too (like like speaking about Hungarians as a "nomad barbaric warrior tribe") there is no propaganda for retaking the lost Hungarian territories, but it is somehow a sentimental, melancholic remembering this obvious Hungarian tragedy, which caused many tears and sufferings among the Hungarians, like the Benes laws, (which named the Hungarians as a „guilty nation", like the Jews were named in Nazi Germany, and deposing them of their basic citizen rights), which are even today part of the Slovakian laws , the forced population deporting from Czechoslovakia to Hungary, the pogrom from Marosvásárhely, the Romanian labor camps from 1945-48, the beheading of Hungarians by the Maniu Guard in 1945, etc. and the different policies of assimilation of today. So the Romanian comments and low ratings, except one (notimemonkeybusiness) are fake and have nothing to do with this movie. They are only the expressing here their chauvinism, and nothing else!

A propaganda, not a documentary...

[catalin-stefan · 1/10 · 9 April 2006]

This is a propaganda footage, not a documentary. It's a shame someone can still produce this kind of propaganda. It remembers me of the dark years of the communist shadow that ripped through the lives and souls of so many unfortunate people in the Eastern and Central Europe. It's not much of a difference, the tools used are the same only this time the effort is concentrated on a nationalist cause. And it's even worse, because it's coming from a country (Hungary) that's already part of the European Union. It looks like a handful of people are trying to raise a spirit of nationalism among their own people and to upset all the neighbors around their country. This is cheap practice with very good results. One can see this from the structure of voting for this propagandistic footage, because the majority of votes are concentrated around 1 and 10.

waste of time...unrealistic and way boring

[ar_p19-1 · 1/10 · 9 February 2007]

As I have seen this "documentary", it revealed itself as the most boring, unimaginative, unrealistic piece of film since Finnish movies. Other than the fact that this film was meant for Hungarian propaganda to somehow recover a land that Hungary never owned, it has nothing to do with history, science or other subjects for a documentary. It is actually more boring than staying home doing nothing instead of watching this piece of crap. Sorry about the language, I am just upset for spending 2 hours on watching this. I probably should sue the theater. Well, my Hungarian girlfriends and my mistress, their mother, seemed to have enjoyed it. I got a nice treat back home.

Those who could read went away

[junior_cdb · 1/10 · 17 November 2006]

in the early ages, during the Huns migration, there were this shepherd in the high Carpathians breeding his sheep. One day a stranger came to him and asked where Pannonia was. our good shepherd raised his hand and pointed West. the next day, more strangers came and asked the same question. they were directed the same way. tired of guiding, the shepherd took a piece of wood and scratched on it: Towards Pannonia! Morale #1: those who could read went away. Morale #2: Those who could write and read stayed. and wrote history others can only read. maybe it's harder for certain people to understand the stealth means of disinformation. my vote goes against a bitter disinformation attempt on the part of the producers of this so-called documentary. in fact, there is no such thing as true history. the history is what people can recall from past events. false is the soupy half-spoken truth about the Romanian history. indeed, this film makes the difference. it stands for a genuine fake page of European history. Congrats. My vote goes 1 (awful).

I'ts an interesting documentary

[levy185 · 10/10 · 24 January 2007]

I can understand the outburst of the Romanians because I live in Romania and I know what they teach at schools in history classes, so I don't judge them about that. I do judge them about that fact that they are just saying thing without looking it up a bit not just from Romanian sources but also some other international sources from historians who have nothing to do with neither of the histories of the Romanians nor the Hungarians. Because I did it and it shocked me what I learned. The thing is that Romania was and still is mislead by the so called "historians" who wrote the history of Romania as it is best in political reasons and this started in around the mid 19th century in Transilvanya by th Scoala Ardeleana, and later intensified at the end of the WWI and it became more intense in the Ceausescu era. I agree to that that is stupid to think that Hungary will regain the regions they lost, more than 2/3ds of the country, the most important thing is to accept the events as they are because I know that most of the people already did and had moved on from it. I think it would be a lot better if the Romanian historians would also tell the truth about everything and not try to cover it up because eventually the Romanian people will have to know. There was one Roaminan historian in Cluj Napoca who tried to somehow tell some thing that were "avoided" by the other writers and he got severely criticized by many high placed man. My point is that if we hear a new idea about something, we should check it out first and then to harshly criticize it. And about the movie, I can say that it was good, but it definitely didn't deserve 10, but I gave a 10 just to rise a bit the average score of it because let's face it, it worth more the 4.5, definitely.

It is clearly Not a documentary!

[notimemonkeybusiness · 2/10 · 16 November 2007]

This is a controversial movie. I heard about it long before I even saw it and I was under the impression it contained clear xenophobic statements and that it instigates people to riots and such. But to me that was not an accurate description of this movie. It is Not a documentary, that much is clear. It seemed more like a cheesy way to present facts that may or may not be true. Some stories and facts seemed real. But the way they present it all is not appropriate for a documentary or any kind of movie. It is Not an enjoyable movie, I could barely stand having to watch it. I only recommend it to very curious people...

Modern Hungary

[langos_1 · 10/10 · 29 May 2006]

Of course you think it is a bad movie because you are a Romanians and a Romanians is not a hungarian so you cant set you comments elsewhere. I think this movie is exactly what Hungarians need. Wake up.

Hungary lost more land then any country in the second world war, yes believe it or not more than Germany.

The trianon was wrong and if you are a true hungarian you can watch this movie with pride and learn from it.

Most of the hungarians that don't wont back the old hungarian lands that belonged to Hungary 1000 years is in fact of slav or German offspring.

A concoction of disparaged facts, to whip-up support for revisionism.

[roxanagratie · 1/10 · 21 June 2016]

Umberto Eco has shown in his book "Foucault's Pendulum" how easy it is to create fictitious history. And all those vehement Magyar commentators condemning the Trianon Treaty and the territorial loss for their country, conveniently forgot that the new boundaries resulting from it were drawn on strictly demographic-majority bases, established by independent, neutral commissions, which inspected all the contested territories. Thus, it was clearly shown that though occupied, ruled, exploited to their own interest by Magyars, the backbone of the territories was in majority Romanian. As for those filth-throwers accusing present day Romanians of fascism and what-not, I say: Better look in your backyard, perhaps you'll notice those neo-nazi, neo-horthyist youth marching!

Racism and Genocide

[arthur_kovach · 10/10 · 2 August 2008]

It saddens me to listen to the fascist comments from Romanians. Fascism and hatred are still alive in Romania 20 years after Ceaucescu.

Too bad you guys can't get a job any more working for Ceausescu's Securitate and continue his policies of racism and genocide against defenseless human beings destroying Hungarian communities and destroying your own people.

I pray to God that the EU can civilize you.

Too bad that Revered László Tőkés spoke out against the Stalinist government of Ceausescu's Romania and sparked the revolution in your country which helped to topple your "so called Dacian" Fuhrer, Ceacescu.

Why did it take the Hungarian minority community to start the uprising?

I was stationed in Germany as a Lieutenant in the American Army from 1988 -1990. I met and know Hungarian refugees from Transylvania who described their brutal treatment to me.

Here is a link to an excellent article from Dr. Balogh regarding Transylvanian history:

http://www.hungarian-history.hu/lib/separating/separating.pdf

I did watch the Trianon movie and enjoyed it since I speak Hungarian though born in the USA. If anything it proposed answers to why the country has been a victim of cultural and spiritual decimation in the European community of nations and how the political leadership failed the country.

It is a sad aspect of human nature to hate another human being because he is different as evidenced by the comments from the Romanians on this message board.

I have had relatives killed in Siberian labor camps and victims of property theft from forced relocation from Kasa.

As for the comment Hungarians make bad movies??? Hollywood was founded by Hungarians - Adolph Zukor - Paramount Pictures - William Fox - 20th Century Fox.

Ref: http://www.kfki.hu/~tudtor/tudos1/martians.html

I thoroughly enjoyed "Children of Glory" (Szabadsag Szerelem) a Joe Eszterhas Production. Joe Eszterhas has an extensive list of films to his credit to include "Basic Instinct." Csak Szex Mas Semmi (just Sex Nothing Else) was also a delightful film I have seen recently. I have collected many others. I have also seen these films listed on Romanian websites.

I have yet to see a Romanian film released in the USA!!!!!!! WHere are they???? I live here in California not far from Hollywood. Show me the money!!!!

Even the Polish and Slovak film festivals in the USA will show Hungarian films.

Arthur Kovacs Hermosa Beach, California

my opinion

[schatten_engel10 · 17 December 2007]

Another comment, 28 November 2007 Author: from Hungary: "After all. Romanians: This movie was not created to you, so we don't need your useless and pathetic comments, talking about your fake/lack of history."

Firstly, I think that everyone of us have the right to express their opinions (it's called FREEDOM OF SPEECH!) and secondly, I don't think that our history is "fake" or doesn't exist! If our history is false, then how do you know yours is true? you lived it? let's get real....plus: this is an international site, everyone has the right to comment on every movie they want, even if it wasn't created to them!

One of the best movies I've ever seen

[vagany11 · 10/10 · 18 March 2007]

Whoever wrote the previous comment, have no idea what he/she is talking about. This movie shows the true side how and what have happened back than. There are quite a few really good books about the subject, probably the best I've read is the "Black Hand Over Europe" (The War is Coming Back Again) by Henry Pozzi. When you get to section "Pan-Slavism-I. The Vultures", you'll know what I meant. There is also " The Balkan Reader" and so on. The two superpowers, United States and Russia did not signed the Peace Treaty, Why? Hmmmm...also quite a few diplomats who were present at the peace treaty opposed to the decisions made (Secret Diplomacy) way before June 4th.1920 behind close doors. Just to quote some:

The Treaty of Trianon and the heartless mutilations of Hungary have been condemned by leading economists, statesmen and even newspapers throughout the world. The "New York Tribune," on May 8, 1919, speaking of all the treaties of Versailles, including the Treaty of Trianon, said:

"Not since Rome punished Carthage of Punic faith, has such a treaty been written."

The English Presbyterian Alliance characterized the Treaty of Trianon in the following words:{4}

"It is dishonorable to the Allies in the light of their professions."

After a French committee of investigation had returned to Paris from Hungary, the French newspaper, the "Matin," in 1922, exclaimed:{5}

"In the name of decency and in the name of true humanity, Hungary must not perish! The Hungarians must be saved! Those people are not responsible for the provocation of the world's catastrophe!"

Lord Newton, an English statesman, described the Treaty of Trianon in these words:{6}

"It is the most disastrous and senseless action for which international statesmen have been responsible."

And nineteen years after the diabolical conception of the Treaty of Trianon, the English editor, J. L. Garvin, said in "The Observer" (England):

"The merciless mutilation of Hungary proper by the Versailles system was and is the most cruel case of all."{7}

United States Senator William E. Borah, in a telegram to this writer, tersely and descriptively pronounced the Treaty of Trianon in these words:

"The cursed Treaty of Trianon!"

Francesco Nitti, ex-Prime Minister of Italy, was so deeply moved by the unprecedented injustice done to Hungary in the Treaty of Trianon that he exclaimed:{8}

"This poor country, Hungary, which saved both civilization and Christianity, has been treated with a bitterness that nothing can explain. After the war everyone wanted some sacrifice from Hungary, and no one dared to say a word of peace or good will for her."

And United States Representative Raymond J. Cannon has exclaimed on the floor of the U. S. House of Representatives:{9}

"The Treaty of Versailles (the Treaty of Trianon included) has many crimes and bloodshed to account for."

When told that the Paris Peace Conference had assassinated democracy and that the outrage committed against Hungary was a disgrace to Christian civilization, Lloyd George, Prime Minister of England, bowed his head in shame and regret and said:{10}

"The religion of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can save this world from another catastrophe."

Trianon is a real historical tragedy

[jjooee-650-746294 · 10/10 · 2 February 2010]

This is not a propaganda movie.

In 1920 the Treaty (dictate) of Trianon. The 1000 year old, unified Hungarian Kingdom lost 71% of territories. Hungary lost millions of Hungarian people, who after 1920 must live in enemy countries.

This is an unjust treaty.

The country lost territories, populations, economies, factories, mines, railways lines, etc. Hungarians ethnic atrocity reached today in Romania, Serbia, Slovkia, Ukraine.

Trianon disgrace to Europe.

Justice for Hungary!

Watch it and decide for you own...

[finanzfeed · 10/10 · 8 December 2018]

I will tell you why I think that this documentary is worth watching:

1. First because, I think that every grown-up person can skip the herd effect of running after other people's biased opinions. You can decide if you like it or not. 2. Just by watching this film one can learn a lot about how our society works (not just in the 20th century but in general). 3. Last but not least if you are interested in watching this film means that you are interested in history and you are curious about how our society works, thus I propose that you check the facts of this and for the matter of fact of each documentary you watch.

P.S. Today you can do non biased fact check on many information by analyzing data, in this case historical data. In general, you will get useful lesson for today's society, thus that you don´t have to believe everything you hear or read in the media, instead it is better if you fact check and decide for your own what is true and what is false It is more work for you, but believe me it is also more rewarding to know things, rather than accepting and believing everything others say.

So watch this and also other documentaries, the more controversial the better, and fact check...

To be a patriot you do not have to be a liar.

[aerocleaver · 3 November 2021]

I understand people have strong feelings pro or against this film that is why it is important to listen the independent historians speak about Trianon; and they all agree that it was a shamefull exercise of imposing peace in Europe after WW1. The outcome of the Trianon dictatum was: * the outburst of WW2 as the pressure imposed on Germany was beyond belief.

* the creation of new countries Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine which DO NOT exist anymore today and of course the addition of Transilvania and Banat to Wallachia and Moldavia which lead to a bigger Romania. Question is for how long will it stay like that given the paralelism? History will tell us... Romanians and other nations which have benefited from the disolution of Austro-Hungary should be happy they got new territories and feel a bit of empathy with the losers and definitely to NOT vote June the 4th as national holiday in Romania -- shame on you to use a commemorative date of your neighbour as celebration!!!! Shame, Shame, Shame!!!