The Round-Up 1966

Prison camps established after the 1848 uprising

Following the suppression of Lajos Kossuth's 1848 revolution, authorities set up prison camps to detain people suspected of supporting the rebellion. These camps symbolize the crackdown on movement leaders and suspected sympathizers. The environment is harsh and designed to extract information.

Guerrillas of Sándor Rózsa secretly detained

About twenty years later, some members of highwayman Sándor Rózsa's guerrilla band are believed to be among the prisoners. They remain unidentified amid the general crush of inmates. The guards begin looking for them among the detainees.

Prison staff begin torture and trickery to identify rebels

The prison staff employ various means—psychological manipulation and physical coercion—in an attempt to locate the rebel leaders. Interrogations grow intense as guards test prisoners' loyalty and knowledge. The atmosphere is tense as everyone waits to see if a Rózsa loyalist will surface.

János Gajdar is identified as a murderer by an old woman

An elderly woman identifies János Gajdar as a murderer among the prisoners, making him a key target for the guards. The accusation changes his standing within the camp and shifts the power dynamics. Gajdar begins to realize his survival depends on navigating the captors' expectations.

Gajdar becomes an informant for his captors

Despite his resistance, Gajdar starts aiding the guards by acting as an informant. He provides information about other prisoners and possible guerrilla acquaintances. The role fractures his alliances and paints a dangerous path for him.

The guards promise sparing him if he can identify a more deadly killer

Gajdar is told that if he can point to a man who has killed more people than himself, he will be spared. The coercive bargain places him in a moral trap and motivates further betrayals. The threat underscores the brutal logic of the camp's interrogation methods.

Gajdar turns in several prisoners by name

Fearing for his life, Gajdar betrays other prisoners by naming individuals. His actions help the guards identify additional guerrillas, accelerating their search. This betrayal deepens his isolation within the inmate community.

Gajdar becomes an outcast among prisoners

After his betrayals, Gajdar is shunned by most inmates and loses any remaining trust. The social fabric of the camp shifts as suspicion and fear drive people apart. He lives with the constant threat of reprisal.

Gajdar is murdered in solitary confinement

At night, some fellow inmates murder Gajdar while he is in solitary confinement. His death demonstrates the brutal indifference of the prison system. Even an informant's life is cheap in this harsh environment.

Guards discover suspects by unlocked cells and interrogate for Sándor

With the guards now confident in who to interrogate, they check prisoners whose cells were left unlocked during the night. They begin a formal line of questioning to locate Sándor Rózsa or his remaining supporters. The vulnerability of the prisoners becomes a weapon for the state.

Prisoners are tricked into revealing remaining guerrillas

The inmates are manipulated into revealing the remaining guerrillas when the guards propose forming a new military unit composed of former bandits. They are led to suppose Sándor himself has been pardoned. The deception underscores the cynical use of ritualized rewards to elicit information.