The "sleepless years" in this propaganda piece by director Felix Marlassy occur on Csepel Island, an island south of Budapest that is home to an armaments factory. The factory workers are shown being exploited by imperialists, capitalists gone berserk, and fascists, more or less in that exact chronological sequence. The heavy-handed approach does much to undercut the belief that when socialism finally takes over, the lives of the workers are brought up to a human level. In this instance, audiences might prefer a more nuanced and subtle statement, no matter what the message.

Genres

Cast

Éva Ruttkai

Vilma

Géza Tordy

Karesz

Éva Vass

Irén

Gábor Agárdy

Tóth

Mari Törőcsik

Kató

István Avar

Tutó

Hilda Gobbi

Volone

Zoltán Makláry

Knézits, factory porter

Gyula Bakos

Béla Barsi

Mihalik

Gyula Bodrogi

Cserna

Elma Bulla

Csótiné