A boldog hadifogoly
The Happy Prisoner of War

The Figure of the Hero Returning From Captivity in István Metz’s One-Act Play Jánoska

Summary/Abstract: After the coming into power of the Romanian Workers’ Party in 1948, the state’s cultural policy aimed to unify professional and amateur theatre by creating new heroes who could convey the same ideological message in both spheres. One such hero was the war prisoner returning from captivity, representing the triumph of socialism and the friendship of the Soviet people. István Metz’s one-act play Jánoska portrays a former prisoner returning home and embracing the new socialist values. While the official discourse erased the experience of suffering during captivity, this play served as a societal release valve, allowing for the possibility of a hidden narrative about the hardships faced by war prisoners. The play was initially performed by the State Sekler Theatre of Târgu Mureș and later became popular among amateur theatre groups, spreading the official narrative and transmitting the hope of homecoming, while subtly challenging certain ideological stereotypes.

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