„The Life of an Agent“

Secret Police Training Methods in Communist Hungary

Memento Park Barrack Theatre Program

Back in the days of communism, the Ministry of Interior Affairs had its own film studio where several hundred short and full-length films were produced between the years 1958 and 1988. These films provided training and instruction to secret police agents on how to defend law and order in the regime.

In 2004 director Gábor Zsigmond Pap created a montage by editing these films. By looking behind the secret scenes, viewers learn about the methods these ? often forced or bribed ? agents and spies used, as well as about the work of their commanding officers and state security experts.

This montage, using the most exciting excerpts taken from period films, is a unique presentation of the operations and mindset of this ruthless organization run by the Kádár-regime.

The film is divided into four, 10-15-minute long parts:

1. The way to hide bugs
2. Introduction to house-searching
3. Methods of recruitment
4. Effective networking

The film is shown in the Memento Park Barrack Theatre in Hungarian, with English subtitles. A DVD version is available in the Memento Park shop.