Kino: 4K Restorations of Three István Szabó Films Heading to U.S. Theaters

Kino Lorber has provided us with a promotional trailer for three newly restored films directed by Hungarian master István Szabó, which will screened at select theaters across the nation.

The films -- Oscar winner Mephisto (1981) and Oscar nominees Confidence (1980) and Colonel Redl (1985) -- have been restored in 4K by the Hungarian Film Institute.

Preliminary street dates for upcoming Blu-ray releases of these films have not yet been announced.

Mephisto

A German stage actor finds unexpected success and mixed blessings in the popularity of his performance in a Faustian play as the Nazis take power in pre-WWII Germany. As his associates and friends flee or are ground under by the Nazi terror, the popularity of his character supersedes his own existence until he finds that his best performance is keeping up appearances for his Nazi patrons.

Confidence

This powerful drama from Oscar®-winning director István Szabó explores the nature of love, trust, loyalty and betrayal borne under the weight of exceptional circumstances. János and Katalin are strangers but forced to pose as husband and wife to hide their links to the anti-Nazi resistance in Budapest 1944. The intensity and intimacy of this relationship forces them to passionately confront their past, challenging what they believe and in whom they can place their trust.

Colonel Redl

Set during the fading glory of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the film tells of the rise and fall of Alfred Redl (Brandauer), an ambitious young officer who proceeds up the ladder to become head of the Secret Police only to become ensnared in political deception.