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December 18, 2025

‘Collusion does not require a dictatorship’: István Szabó on his Nazi actor masterpiece Mephisto

As his 1981 film is rereleased, the director talks about his Oscar-winning fable about an actor’s Faustian pact with the Nazi party – and its new relevance

‘Collusion does not require a dictatorship’: István Szabó on his Nazi actor masterpiece Mephisto

TL;DR

  • Mephisto, a 1981 Hungarian film directed by István Szabó, won the Oscar for best international feature.
  • The film depicts an actor's rise within the Nazi regime, sacrificing his principles for ambition.
  • It is based on the life of Gustaf Gründgens and explores themes of complicity with evil.
  • Mephisto has been restored and rereleased, along with two other Szabó films: Colonel Redl and Hanussen.
  • Director Szabó believes the film's themes of ambition and collaboration with power remain relevant today.
  • The article also touches on other recent Hungarian artistic achievements and Szabó's reflections on his career and Hungarian cinema.

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