Representatives of The Peoples' College - children of peasants and intellectuals - invade the grounds of a seminary college to convert its upper class students to their communist ideals. Laci (Lajos Balazsovits, CONFIDENCE) favors persuasion through discussion and debate, while Jutka (Andrea Drahota, RED PSALM) favors a more militant approach. Their actions are observed by a state police officer Andras (Andras Kozak, THE RED AND THE WHITE) who seems to be gauging the usefulness of each approach towards his own ends. When the students disrupt the Andras' attempt to round up five of the seminary students for arrest, Jutka convinces them that Laci is too indecisive and impulsive and should be relieved of his position. Jutka takes over and institutes a reign where resistance to bullying is considered provocation and suffering in silence is considered "peaceful fascism" (considerably more dangerous than "active fascism").

Made at a time when Hungarian filmmaking was heavily regulated by the government - particularly films critical of the Communist Party - Jancso took an indirect approach that is critical of all sides and power's overall ability to corrupt whoever is in charge. Laci is indecisive and Jutka is fascistic with the police in between and malleable to both approaches so long as they get results (as illustrated by Andras and his officers' half-hearted attempts to join the choreographed dances of the students). Despite another change in leadership at the end, the film does not offer an answer as to which is the more effective approach (although Andras says Jutka will make a very effective administrator, suggesting a preference for her approach and perspective if only behind the scenes).

Eric Cotenas