6 min

S9 · E1 · Jan 5, 2011

Fisherman John Episode 1

On the bank of the Tisza River lived a fisherman together with his wife, but they were sad, as they didn't have a child. One time the old man, as he was fishing at night on the Tisza River, the water brought a little coffin, with a baby inside it. He was very joyous, he took him home, and they happily brought him up. The colt also was brought up together with Johnny, which they took home on advice from the teacher. This colt was not a colt of any kind, but rather a magic horse, with the help of which Johnny manages to save his little daughter, who is kept by a cruel witch locked in a dark cave in the neighboring country.

6 min

S9 · E2 · Jan 5, 2011

The Stone-Hearted Man Episode 2

Three poor lads take off to find a wife. During their journey a strange old man gives them shelter. The series of complications starts when they don’t keep their promise made to the stone-hearted old man, and he transforms them into stone. In the meantime a clever and good-hearted brother is born for them, who turns events for the better.

6 min

S9 · E3 · Jan 5, 2011

A Talking Vine, a Smiling Apple and a Jingling, Tingling Peach Episode 3

The king brings presents for his daughters, but he cannot fulfil his youngest's wish because he is unable to find talking grapes, smiling apples and ringing apricots anywhere. On his way home he gets into trouble and only a white swine is able to help him. In return for his assistance the king promises his daughter's hand to the swine. So, the swine comes for the king's daughter, takes her with him on his cart to the pigsty. But then, lo and behold...

6 min

S9 · E4 · Jan 5, 2011

The Silken Meadow Episode 4

The old Red King is very sad, because he can't help his friend, the Green King, who lives on the silk meadow, and the wicked witch sends her army on him by the thousands to destroy him. However, he has a heroic and handsome son, who with the help of a wonder horse and a magic sword takes off to defeat the witch – and to save the silk meadow.

6 min

S9 · E5 · Jan 5, 2011

Sebastian, the Dragon Slayer Episode 5

The king is very careworn and sad, because the dragons are destroying his sheep and his shepherds, namely his people. He takes off to find a savior hero. The three sons of the poor man, not bearing impoverishment anymore, decide to complain about their problems to the king. This is how the strings of their fate are woven, but only the youngest boy fulfils the test, who can bring a sacrifice and who keeps his promise, therefore the king finds the savior and the hero in his child, who will be worthy of the task. He gives him a sword which has magical powers, with the help of which Sebastian defeats the dragons and wins the hand of the king’s daughter, and the stolen empire will also be his.

6 min

S9 · E6 · Jan 5, 2011

Butcher Boy George Episode 6

What or what not butcher boy George thought? Not other than big nothing itself, still he took off to see the world, to fight with devils, to dance and whirl around with a witch, to marry a nice girl, and to live happily, whistling.

6 min

S9 · E7 · Jan 5, 2011

The Discontented Cooking Pot Episode 7

The cooking pot and the walking stick get tired of their monotonous and grey life and take off into the big world. After some adventure, by accident, they suddenly become rich – a pot of golden coins come into their possession, and they start weaving wonderful dreams regarding their future life. Well yes, however, the greediness of the walking stick ends the friendship. The coins acquired by deceit, the spoils of a cruel misdeed, can only bring misfortune to the walking stick, who finally earns his well-deserved punishment.

6 min

S9 · E8 · Jan 5, 2011

The Miraculous Bird Episode 8

A penniless man gathers the food each day for his family in the forests and on the meadows, and he finds a nice crow with a mysterious writing under its wings, but as he was illiterate, he could not unscramble the meaning of the words. However, a wonderer turning up there understood the text, and he offered heaps of money to the poor man, if he roasted the bird, and he could eat its heart and liver. The hungry children of the poor man stole exactly these two pieces out of the pan, so the mysterious writing under the bird's wings was fulfilled on them.

6 min

S9 · E9 · Jan 5, 2011

The Poor Man and the Dog Episode 9

Once lived a poor woman and a poor man with many, many children, in great poverty. The meeting of the loony man with a puppy brought them their luck.

6 min

S9 · E10 · Jan 5, 2011

The Lazy Boy Episode 10

A tale of a lad called Lazy Janko, who was not only lazy, but also a dreamer and good. Overcoming his laziness he returned the small fish into the river, and he got a magic spell as a reward. His wishes came true, and even the mother of his little son, the princess, became his.

6 min

S9 · E11 · Jan 5, 2011

King Matthias and the Lamb with a Golden Fleece Episode 11

The Prussian King was jealous of the lamb with a golden fleece of King Matthias and decided to obtain it by any means. They make a bet on whether the shepherd looking over the lamb, who is famous for always telling the truth, lies or not. The Prussian King, with the slyness of his daughter, and of course with some sacrifice, obtains the skin of the lamb with the golden fleece. The shepherd is sad, he is suffering and sinks deeper and deeper into the maze of lies – until finally he chooses the straight path – and tells the truth about what exactly happened with the lamb with the golden fleece. This is how they win half of the Prussian King's country, and even also the Prussian King's daughter.

Hungarian Folktales

Season 9

Fisherman John Episode 1

The Stone-Hearted Man Episode 2

A Talking Vine, a Smiling Apple and a Jingling, Tingling Peach Episode 3

The Silken Meadow Episode 4

Sebastian, the Dragon Slayer Episode 5

Butcher Boy George Episode 6

The Discontented Cooking Pot Episode 7

The Miraculous Bird Episode 8

The Poor Man and the Dog Episode 9

The Lazy Boy Episode 10

King Matthias and the Lamb with a Golden Fleece Episode 11

Cast

More from Marcell Jankovics

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