Don't Pull My Beard! 1975
Don't Pull My Beard! (1975) is a sharp, absurdist comedy from Hungarian filmmaker Péter Bacsó that pokes fun at bureaucratic red tape and the stifling power of institutional inertia.
Director: Péter Bacsó
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Don't Pull My Beard! (1975) about?
The film follows Pócsik, a young engineer whose breakthrough idea to stabilize tilting trains is undermined by jealous bosses who fear losing their grip on power. As his innovation faces sabotage at every turn, the story spirals into a hilarious yet pointed satire on institutional resistance to change and progress.
Who directed Don't Pull My Beard!?
Péter Bacsó directed the film. Known for his sharp social satires and comedies, Bacsó crafted a work that blends absurd humor with biting commentary on bureaucracy.
Who stars in Don't Pull My Beard!?
The film stars Helyey László as Pócsik, with Ferenc Kállai, Tamás Major, and Ildikó Bánsági rounding out the main cast in a mix of comedic and dramatic roles.
Is Don't Pull My Beard! (1975) worth watching?
If you enjoy cerebral comedies packed with social satire and underdog stories, this Hungarian gem is absolutely worth your time. Its clever script and timeless themes about innovation versus obstruction make it a surprisingly relevant watch more than four decades later.
How long is Don't Pull My Beard!?
The runtime is 100 minutes.
About Don't Pull My Beard! (1975) — A Hungarian Comedy Classic of Bureaucratic Rebellion
Don't Pull My Beard! (1975) is a sharp, absurdist comedy from Hungarian filmmaker Péter Bacsó that pokes fun at bureaucratic red tape and the stifling power of institutional inertia. The film follows Pócsik, a determined young design engineer at the Railway Tilting Examination Board, whose innovative work on stabilizing carriages around curves is deliberately sabotaged by jealous superiors who fear progress will undermine their own authority. Set against the backdrop of mid-century state-run systems, the story unfolds with escalating absurdity as Pócsik's persistence clashes with the entrenched incompetence and envy of his bosses, creating a biting satire on how innovation often falters under office politics and personal grudges.
Blending drawing-room wit with biting social commentary, Don't Pull My Beard! delivers a lighthearted yet incisive critique of how power is wielded in everyday institutions. Bacsó's direction infuses the production with a playful, almost theatrical energy, making the bureaucratic absurdities feel both hilariously exaggerated and uncomfortably familiar. With its clever script and standout performances, the film offers a timeless look at the tension between ambition and obstruction in the workplace—especially in rigidly controlled systems.
Available to stream or download on various devices, Don't Pull My Beard! remains a cult classic for fans of cerebral comedy and sharp political satire alike.