Sándor Márai Memorial Room reopened and enhanced by a sightseeing tour

We bring you the second part of the interview with Flóra Ondová Reiter, project manager of Sándor Márai Memorial Room revitalization.

How did the revitalization progress?

The Memorial Room, located on 35 Mäsiarska street, was revitalized according to the project of the spanish architect Cesar Fernandez Bravo from Servac architectural studio in Madrid. Changes had to be made very sensitively. We did not want the room to be dedicated to the memory of Márai or an exhibition of his belongings, but present the author himself with his thoughts and publications. I think we managed to achieve the goal, thanks to the research and the work that has been done, and the visitors may get to know the author in a more attractive way.

Can you tell us more about the movie?

It is called "Against the wind". We wanted to create a documentary film using educative techniques for students and youth, but in a way that also the elder ones will enjoy it. It is a Slovak–Hungarian co-production. Slovak director Martin Štalbaský and Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi divided the work due to chapters, which the movie is divided into.

Acted footage from the present is supplemented with archive material. The film itself is a relatively large contribution to the project because it is the first Slovak film about Márai. For comparison, in Hungary there are already 9 of them. By its nature and adaptation the film has an original concept, whereas, despite the dramatic and sad story, it does not compel one to cry, but rather to think.

Any feedback from the project?

Even before the opening we were confronted with great interest from both, domestic and foreign media. Their interest indicated that the project will meet with success, which has encouraged us in our work. In less than 2 weeks since the opening, more than 450 visitors have signed the memorial book. From a long term point of view we expect approximately 80 000 visitors in Košice thanks to the reopened Memorial Room and the new Memorial Route.

Did Márai’s life story influence you somehow?

There is still a plenty what Márai can say to the contemporary generation. From a present point of view, he could be tagged as a rebel, an optimist and a person with a pro-active attitude to life. Márai considered education as of vast importance and underlined the role of city dwellers as some sort of moving power in a society. Therefore he was disappointed of the general development in Central Europe after World War 2 and decided to emigrate.

He also wrote in the USA, but he refused to publish his works, until free elections in his homeland were granted. You can say that he was faithfull and devoted to his ideals throughout his life. Also this fact contributed to the events leading to his tragic end, shortly before democratization processes in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989.

His strong relationship to Budapest and Košice could be perceived from President Ronald Reagan congratulations to his 85th birthday. To many the congratulations of the American President would be a highlight of their lives. Márai however, stated mostly the strong feelings of disappointment. He said that, no one in his homeland had thought about him, and there he remained forgotten.

Part 1 of the interview