Watch Party: Stream Hungarian Classic Vuk for Free!

Cinema closures have meant increased interest in streaming films, and though that is largely troubling for the film industry, the silver lining is that audiences are discovering and rediscovering classics and films they might not have otherwise given a chance. Luckily, the Hungarian Film Archive has made numerous classic Hungarian films available online, many for free. One such film is the animated classic Vuk, a beloved family film about a fox cub.

Adapted from a popular children's novel of the same name, it was the second of writer István Fekete’s books to be made into a film. The first was the novel Tüskevár (Thorn Castle), which came out in 1957 and was filmed ten years later. Vuk, too, was released during Socialist times, in 1981, and produced by Pannónia Filmstúdió.

The story follows similar coming-of-age animal plots like American classic Bambi, only it is done with a bit of Central European flair, and expert animation. According to wikifur.com here’s what to expect: “The film is about a fox cub, Vuk, who ventures away from his family's den and, upon his return, learns from his uncle Karak that his entire family has been shot and killed by a human hunter. Karak then offers for Vuk to stay with him, and Karak continues to raise him.As Vuk grows older, he develops much cunning and cleverness. Now a young adult fox, he finds a vixen held captive in a cage on a human farm. He tricks the guard dogs and other animals, as well as the hunter himself, and eventually helps the vixen escape. She joins Vuk and Karak in the woods. Karak is killed by humans during a hunt. Vuk swears revenge on the hunter and finally accomplishes it, playing many jokes on the hunter's stupid dogs and eventually on the man himself. At the end of the film, Vuk and his wife have cubs.”

Vuk themed mural via the Vuk Facebook page

Vuk is not to be confused with the British/Hungarian animated film Kis Vuk -- or A Fox’s Tale -- which is the film’s more internationally minded sequel, in part voiced by Miranda Richardson (and also made in Budapest). The later was computer animated, and a bit of a flop. 

The original Hungarian Vuk is the one to watch, and it is online for free, with English subtitles. And of course we have the link for you below. Got a favorite Hungarian classic available for legal streaming? Let us know in the comments!  In the meantime, enjoy this tale of cunning and caring. Just what we need right now.

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