Filmstrip, Hungary’s old-school projectors children love
phones may have to be prised from the fingers of children elsewhere, but in Hungary storytime can be all about a 100-year-old piece of tech — filmstrip.
Generations of kids there have been enthralled with stories told with the help of a projector.
Alexandra Csosz-horvath turns off the lights and reads “Sleeping Beauty” from a series of still captioned images projected onto the bedroom wall — her three- and seven-year-old clearly under her spell.
“We’re together, it’s cosier than the cinema yet it’s better than a book,” said the 44-year-old lawyer.
Filmstrip — a century-old storytelling medium that was killed off in the West by the video cassette in the 1980s — is not just hanging on in Hungary, it is thriving with a new wave of enthusiasts charmed by its slower-paced entertainment.
Printed on rolls of film, the still images were never meant to move. Long tradition “Between the 1940s and the 1980s filmstrips were used worldwide as a costeffective visualisation tool in education and other fields,” Levente Borsos, of Seoul’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said.
But while it was surpassed by more advanced technologies in the West, it became a popular form of home entertainment in the Soviet bloc where TVS and videos were harder to come by.
When communism collapsed, filmstrip began to disappear — except in Hungary, where the since privatised Diafilmgyarto company survives as the country’s sole producer.
“Continuous filmstrip publishing and slide shows at home can be considered a
Hungarian peculiarity, a special part of the country’s cultural heritage,” Borsos said.
REVIVAL
Producer Diafilmgyarto has seen sales rebound from 60,000 in the 1990s to 230,000 rolls last year.
Each film — produced solely for the domestic market — costs around five euros ($5.50), less than a cinema ticket. Most are adaptations of classic fairy tales or children’s books.
One bestseller, Hungarian classic “The Old Lady and the Fawn” about a woman taking care of a young deer, has been in the top 10 since its release in 1957, according to Diafilmgyarto’s managing director
Gabriella Lendvai.
The company also commissions artists, including some famous Hungarians, to create exclusive content for its filmstrips.
It’s “an irreplaceable tradition in Hungarian culture”, said Beata Hajdutoth, who attended a recent filmstrip screening in a Budapest cinema along with her son to celebrate Diafilmgyarto’s 70th anniversary.
“I am very happy it’s part of our life and hopefully I will be able to narrate to my grandchildren as well,” the 37-year-old added.
At her home in the Budapest suburbs, Csosz-horvath also hails the tradition, preferring it to fast-paced cartoons, which she said drive the children “wild”.
“They just can’t understand that what happens in three seconds on the screen happens in three hours in real life,” she said.
With filmstrips “they don’t believe that everything happens in the blink of an eye.”
Iftar gatherings during the holy month of Ramadhan are distinguished by their unique atmosphere, characterised by both spiritual and social values. They represent an annual tradition and one of the defining scenes of this blessed month in villages and cities, offering families, friends, and neighbours the chance to convene in a beautiful social setting. The ambiance is imbued with a communal spirit and a sense of unity.
Various official and private entities eagerly organise Ramadhan Iftar gatherings each year, recognising the opportunity they afford for community engagement and the promotion of unity. Alongside individuals, companies, and charitable organisations, it is common for community members to opt for collective breaking of the fast, whether in the streets, neighbourhoods, mosques, parks, or public squares.
The timing of breaking the fast, determined by the Maghrib Adhan, facilitates the coordination of these gatherings.
Al Ghafat Heritage Village in the Wilayat of Bahla, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, epitomised the social and spiritual values of Ramadhan by adorning the locale with Ramadhan lights and traditional decorations, fostering a sense of brotherhood and joy among attendees. The venue was bedecked with Ramadhan lights and traditional ornaments, creating a distinctive atmosphere of camaraderie and happiness among participants. During the iftar, a diverse array of delectable meals was served, showcasing the rich culinary diversity of Omani society and encouraging cultural exchange among attendees.
A local resident who hosts Iftar gatherings near his home explained that this Ramadhan tradition has been observed since his youth, recalling his involvement in serving and preparing food alongside his father. He inherited the practice from his father, who used to host such gatherings around which families and passersby would converge, noting the collective efforts of relatives, friends, and neighbours in food preparation and arrangement. Now, his son actively participates in the organisation, underscoring the intergenerational transmission of such customs.
Saleh bin Zayed al Hinai, head of the Al Koor Charitable Team, remarked, “This marks the second iteration of our event under the name ‘Ramadhan Tent,’ organised by the Al Koor team in Al Ghafat. The impetus behind our gathering is twofold: a social motive, encompassing societal interaction across various demographics, and a historical and cultural motive, aimed at reviving the locale, reconnecting with the past, and acquainting the younger generation with the contributions of their forebears to the area.” The event garnered significant enthusiasm from the townsfolk, with over 150 attendees spanning different age groups, including the elderly, youth, and children.
Al Hinai further elaborated, “Considerable efforts were invested in preparing and outfitting the event venue well in advance of the holy month, with local youth contributing over 80 hours in volunteer activities spanning two months. Notable figures such as Shaikh Dr Al Khattab bin Ghalib bin Ali al Hinai, the former Vice President of the State Council, Shaikh Dr Hilal bin Ali bin Zaher al Hinai, and Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Zaher al Hinai, the former State Adviser, graced the occasion. Such events merit regular organisation and repetition owing to their social dimensions and their efficacy in nurturing bonds and fostering a cohesive, fraternal, collaborative, and constructive society.” The event witnessed robust attendance from both residents and visitors alike, underscoring its significance as a distinguished social affair.
The Omani community at large continues to uphold its age-old Ramadhan traditions, which serve to strengthen cohesion and social interaction during this blessed month.