István Szabó is a renowned Hungarian film director, screenwriter and opera director, widely regarded as one of Hungary’s most renowned filmmakers, especially on the international stage since the late 1960s performance.
He began his filmmaking journey in 1959 with a short film while studying at the Theater and Film School in Budapest.
In 1964, his debut film came out. Saab has won global acclaim for films such as: Mephisto (1981), which earned him an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Many of his subsequent works were international co-productions, showcasing a variety of languages and European backgrounds.
contour
- Full name: Istvan Saab
- Stage name: Istvan Saab
- Date of birth: February 18, 1938
- Age: 86 years old
- Place of birth: Budapest, Hungary
- Nationality: Hungarian
- Occupation: Hungarian film director, screenwriter and opera director
- Height: unknown
- Parents: Mária (née Vita) and István Szabó
- Siblings: unknown
- Spouse: Vera Gyurey (m. 1961)
- Children: unknown
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: unknown
early life and education
István Szabó was born in Budapest, Hungary, on February 18, 1938. His father was Mária (née Vita), and his mother István Szabó was a woman from a long-established family. Medical traditional family doctor. It is unclear if he has any siblings as their identities are not publicly recorded.
He attended the Budapest Theater and Film Academy, where he received basic training and launched his successful filmmaking career.
Saab is Hungarian. In a 2001 interview, he expressed his belief in God, although specific details about his religious beliefs or beliefs remain unknown.
Profession
István Szabó began his career in the early 1960s and became one of the most important filmmakers of the Hungarian “New Wave” cinema era. Originally aspiring to become a doctor like his father, Szabo turned his attention to filmmaking at the age of 16, inspired by Hungarian film theorist Béla Balazs. He was admitted to the Budapest Theater and Film Academy, where he studied under Felix Mariasi and collaborated with classmates who later became famous directors.
Saab’s first work, fantasy age (1964), which explored themes of intergenerational struggle and marked the beginning of his autobiographical story, starring actor András Bálint in a recurring character based on Szabo himself.
His next films, e.g. Father (1966) and love movie (1970), delves into personal and historical narratives using experimental techniques influenced by the French New Wave. Father It was later recognized as one of Hungary’s top films.
In the 1980s, Szabo won international acclaim with his Brandauer Trilogy, which included Mephisto (1981), colonel redel (1985), and Hanussen (1988), all starring Klaus Maria Brandauer. Mephisto Saab won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1982. These films are historically based and explore the moral conflicts and compromises of authoritarian regimes.
In the 1990s, Saab turned to international co-productions, including English-language films such as meet venus (1991) and Lovely Emma, dear Beibei (1992), addressed contemporary social issues.
Pick a side (2001) revisited the theme of moral ambiguity, winning praise for its depiction of the trial of Wilhelm Furtwängler. Saab be julia (2004) received critical acclaim, and Annette Bening won a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
Saab returns to Hungarian film industry Rockonoke (2006), adapted from a classic novel about political corruption. His later works include Door (2012), adapted from the novel by Magda Szabo, continues to explore the complexities of human relationships and has gained international recognition.
In addition to filmmaking, Szabo has directed operas in cities including Paris, Vienna and Budapest, and taught at prestigious European film schools. His early films blended experimental narrative with psychological depth, reflecting his commitment to exploring human emotions and social challenges.
Szabo also directed several operas, including tannhäuser in Paris, Boris Godunov In Leipzig, bard in Vienna, and three sisters In Budapest. He has taught at film schools in Budapest, London, Berlin and Vienna.
Szabo’s enduring legacy includes his frequent collaborations with actors such as Klaus Maria Brandauer and András Balint, cinematographer Lajos Koltai, and screenwriters such as Peter Dobai. His contribution to cinema has earned him a prominent place in Hungarian and global cinema history.
Awards and nominations
Istvan Saab has received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career.
- Academy Awards: Won: Best Foreign Language Film Mephisto (1982)
- Cannes Film Festival: Winner of Best Screenplay Award Mephisto (1981)Won: Jury Prize colonel redel (1985)
- BAFTA Awards: Won: Best Non-English Language Film Mephisto (1982)
- European Film Awards: Won: European Screenwriter of the Year Dear Emma, Dear Beibei (1992) won: European Screenwriting Award Sunlight (1999)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Director Nomination Sunlight (2001) and Best Foreign Language Film Hanussen (1989) and colonel redel (1986)
- Berlin International Film Festival: Berlin Silver Bear Award for Best Director confidence (1980)
social media
Instagram account: @szaboistvan0423
personal life
The famous Hungarian film director István Szabó married Vera Gyurey in 1961 and has been married for more than 60 years. Their enduring relationship remained a cornerstone of his life throughout his celebrated filmmaking career. It is unclear whether the two couples have any children, but details about them are unknown.
film chronology
- Film directed:
- Hetedik Nabon (seventh day) (1959)
- bill poster (1960)
- Changes in Temara, Egypt (variations on a theme) (1961)
- you (1963)
- concert (concert)(1963)
- Children’s Traffic Rules Story (1965)
- fantasy age (1965)
- pious (1967)
- love movie (1970)
- Budapest, why I love it (Short Film Collection) (1971)
- 25 Fireman Street (1973)
- Varostkap (city map) (1977)
- Budapest Story (1977)
- Sunday location (1978)
- confidence (1980)
- green bird (1980)
- Mephisto (1981)
- colonel redel (1985)
- Hanussen (1988)
- meet venus (1991)
- Lovely Emma, dear Beibei (1991)
- Sunlight (1999)
- Pick a side (2001)
- Old Ten Minutes: Cello (clip: “Ten Minutes Later”) (2002)
- be julia (2004)
- Rockonoke (relatives) (2006)
- Door (2012)
- final report (2020)
- Role:
- Father (voice of film director) (1966)
- Hungarian (Abris Kondor) (1978)
- Balint Fabian meets God (Andras) (1980)
- Mephisto (Theatre Party Attendant) (1981)
- colonel redel (Auction Official) (1985)
- Hanussen (minor role) (1988)
- tutotnet (Falworth) (1989)
- Utelius (Allworth) (1994)
- Francesca Vasanapujai (Allworth) (1997)
- Place Vendôme (Charlie Rosen) (1998)
- Pick a side (Passengers on the Train) (2001)
- flash (Phantoms in the Graveyard) (2004)
- Rockonoke (Bankigazgató-helyettes, voice) (2006)
- I served the King of England (Stock Trader) (2006)
net worth
István Szabó’s net worth remains undisclosed as he has not revealed any information about his financial status.
As an outstanding Hungarian film director, his best-known works include Mephisto Saab (1981) won him an Academy Award and he gained significant recognition in the film industry. However, specific details about his wealth are not available in public channels.
