What does “the West” mean for Hungary and Romania?
Hungary and Romania are neighbouring countries. Within a space of three years both became members of the European Union, Hungary in 2004, Romania in 2007. For both countries membership of the EU means a return home to the western world. But what does this “West” mean for them?
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First scene: 1980s, in a train travelling through the GDR.
In the compartment sits a young man, unusually well dressed for a second-class carriage: exclusive shirt, expensive shoes, brand name bag and elegant white jacket. He is reading a hardcover book in English. A young woman approaches along the corridor: a rocker, black leather jacket with studs, black boots, black leather miniskirt, black arm bands with silver studs, her face is heavily made up. She has a black rucksack on her back, a red sleeping bag peeps out of it. A passenger closes the door to prevent her entering his compartment. She sticks her chewing gum to the door. She looks at the compartments, taking a close look inside a number of them as though she were looking for them. When she arrives at the compartment where the young man is sitting she is obviously delighted. She pulls the door open.
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The state ideology imposed by Moscow was hated in Hungary not only on account of the terror and restrictions to freedom but also due to its core that was felt to be a lie. This was, namely, the promise to make all people equal and happy. "A communist always tells lies" is therefore the slogan of moderate and radical anti-communists alike in Eastern Europe, and it was also to be heard during the Budapest protest demonstrations on Parliament Square in autumn 2006. Disputes between the left, the right and the liberals are splitting the country at the moment and the week-long demonstrations on Parliament Square after the "lie speech" of socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány seemed like a predictable accident. Nevertheless, their official labels do not correspond with the real contents of the individual parties. An analysis of the events, the confusion and the historic backgrounds.
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There are some days in your life when you have the feeling that you are at the right place at the right time. 23 October 2006 was one of those days and the city of Budapest was the place.
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Viennese market researcher Rudolf Bretschneider, director of the Fessl & GFK - Institute, collects data about eastern Europe. What does his mountain of information reveal about the people in eastern Europe?
Florian Klenk in conversation with Rudolf Bretschneider.
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Kontakt - The Art Collection of Erste Bank Group has been newly organized and is now monitored by a jury of international experts. Since 2004 greater emphasis has been placed on acquiring art from Eastern and South - eastern Europe, works dating from the sixties and seventies and, above all, contemporary works.
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On Belá Tarr, the lonely Master of Hungarian cinema and other talented young directors in Hungary.
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