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Director Miklos Jancso created two films in a historical trilogy in 1978: Magyar Rapszodia and Allegro Barbaro. The trilogy was intended to tell the story of Hungary from 1900 to post-World War Two. The third part of the trilogy has never been made, and aside from rare early festival showings, the other two parts have seldom been seen outside of Hungary. This vast subject is seen through the eyes of a young landowner's son, who is called Istvan (Gyorgy Cserhalmi) in the film. The story is based on the life of Endre Bajcscy-Zsilinszky. In the beginning of the films, Istvan vigorously upholds the feudal prerogatives of his class, and gradually comes to espouse the cause of the peasants. At the opening of the first film, a huge celegration is underway to celebrate Istvan and his brother's commissions in the Army. Here, the landowner and his peasants are united in the feasts and dances. Later, during an election campaign, Istvan's father is subjected to indignities by a group of peasants, and Istvan joins with the local authorities in exacting brutal reprisals. Later, he goes off to fight in World War One, and participates in efforts to exterminate communists then and afterward. However, he eventually begins to have his doubts about the correctness of these activities, and begins to behave differently.