‘Semmelweis’ Review: A Medical Breakthrough Is Recounted With Blunt Instruments in Hungary’s Official Oscar Selection

As a seasoned cinema connoisseur with a penchant for historical dramas, I must say that “Semmelweis” left quite the impression upon me. It masterfully combines the elegance of 19th-century Vienna with the raw intensity of medical thrillers, all while delivering a captivating narrative about the relentless pursuit of truth and justice in the face of adversity.

The scream that pierces through the opening of “Semmelweis” sets the tone for the 19th century-set drama from Lajos Koltai, about the groundbreaking Hungarian obstetrician Ignaz Semmelweis, immediately showing its concern for a very pregnant young woman desperately roaming the streets for a proper place to give birth. Loath to check in to local clinics that have acquired a reputation for patients mysteriously dying in postpartum care, her shaken faith in the health care system sets a distinctly modern emphasis for the sturdy, old-fashioned Vienna period piece, selected as Hungary’s official Oscar selection after it became a local box office hit.

Without needing to see a photograph of the actual bald and spectacled Dr. Semmelweis, it’s evident that Koltai intends to offer something more entertaining than educational with his grand movie-star introduction for the handsome Miklós H. Vecsei, cast as the film’s title character. His lush, black hair is slicked with sweat, enhancing the doctor’s already striking appearance, and his intense blue eyes seem to pierce through the surrounding redness from long night shifts. In this portrayal, Semmelweis appears simple-minded, devoting all his time to medicine and lacking in social finesse. However, he proves to be an intriguing hero as a single-minded, blade-wielding adventurer who tirelessly chases answers for an epidemic of puerperal fever – a bacterial infection that can develop in the birth canal following childbirth.

In the years prior to Louis Pasteur’s discovery of bacteria, Dr. Semmelweis faced a challenging mission, complicated by those in authority who refused to reconsider their methods, fearing they might be found at fault instead of serving their patients better. This set off a formidable struggle against the entrenched bureaucracy as the doctor delved deep into the system itself and its practices (not just dead bodies), defying the hospital administrator Professor Klein’s attempts to preserve the institution’s reputation.

When the doctor starts to suspect that unsanitary hospital practices might be the culprit, “Semmelweis” could appear overly straightforward in its plot development. A sudden, critical tracheotomy performed on a high-profile politician’s wife at an extravagant ball provides the Doctor with immediate professional cover, though the event is handled so heavily by the filmmakers that the narrative abruptly and enigmatically abandons it — revisiting it later to explain a subsequent plot point. Furthermore, when the fictional character Emma is tasked with treating Semmelweis’ wound, it seems more obligatory than heartfelt to incorporate a romantic subplot into an already engaging storyline.

Nonetheless, Koltai, who has been a longtime cinematographer for István Szabó, including the 2007 adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s “Evening,” skillfully transforms occasional melodramatic elements into an engaging film experience. Collaborating with screenwriter Balázs Maruszki, they deftly incorporate elements from other genres to guide the medical-themed drama towards unanticipated destinations. As the story progresses, “Semmelweis” subtly ventures into the realm of an espionage thriller as Emma finds herself in a predicament reminiscent of any spy, torn between her blossoming relationship with the doctor and her role as a kind of secret agent. Later, the discovery of an ancient operating theater sets the stage for a traditional courtroom drama finale, where Semmelweis defends his actions before a packed audience at a medical board hearing.

It could be intriguing to witness Semmelweis debating against complacency, considering how traditional methods continue to hold power within the movie’s narrative. However, despite the film’s concentration on healthcare professionals putting their own interests above those of patients, there’s a profound impact when someone shows genuine concern.

2024-11-20 01:50

‘Semmelweis’ Review: A Medical Breakthrough Is Recounted With Blunt Instruments in Hungary’s Official Oscar Selection

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