Private Project

The Extraordinary Life of Aunt Emmi

Emma Nemeskéri blew out 100 candles on her birthday cake on December 6th 2016. She started to work as an optician in 1937, in Lajos Libál’s shop in downtown Budapest, quite a unique shop in the Hungary of the time. She retired from there at the age of 99 in 2016.

Mme Emma was born in 1916, the youngest of five in a time when thousands of Hungarian children were living in poverty. Having been sent abroad, first to Belgium at the age of six, then to Switzerland, she had to re-learn her native Hungarian when she came back at the age of 12. She survived a direct hit during the bombings of World War 2, which – in her own words – was an irrevocable “life sentence”.

Mme Emmi’s memories, the scenes where her life played out, the faces of Budapest old and new appear like as many living postcards. As we glimpse into the world of optometry in a time when fake eyes sold very well indeed, we also learn about the changing requirements of customers over the years.

Our film is a portrait of a person and a documentary of an age in one. It chronicles the 20th century through the story of a genial, ever-smiling lady of 101, with charm, humor, practical realities and every day battles of people now gone. The film connects us to parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, the country and the capital through a mesmerizing lady.

  • Eszter Száraz
    Director
  • Eszter Száraz
    Writer
  • Marton Ecsedy
    Producer
  • Daniel Kapi
    Editor
  • David Hegyi
    Music
  • István Dala
    Cinematographer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Emmi néni csodálatos élete
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Television
  • Genres:
    Women, biographical, portrait, drama, history, culture
  • Runtime:
    52 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 10, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    28,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Hungary
  • Country of Filming:
    Hungary
  • Language:
    Hungarian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:09
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hungarian National Film Award
    Budapest
    Hungary
    February 27, 2020
    Official Selection Short Listed
  • Hét Domb Fesztivál

    Hungary
    October 11, 2020
    Official Selection, jury's main prize
  • Ars Sacra Film Festival
    Budapest
    Hungary
    September 18, 2019
    Official Selection Short Listed
  • Faludi Film Festival
    Budapest
    Hungary
    November 28, 2019
    Official Selection Short Listed
  • International Social Shorts Antwerp
    Antwerp
    December 5, 2020
    Official Selection, Short Listed
Director - Eszter Száraz