The Xtra Diary - HUNGARIAN FILM FESTIVAL - Ferenc Puskás - story of a footballing legend

Published: 2 July, 2010

Superlatives were invented for Ferenc Puskás.

The legendary Hungarian striker is unquestionably enshrined in the pantheon of the world’s greatest players.

A documentary telling the story of his rise from the slums of Budapest to original Real Madrid “galactico” and bête noire of the English national side opened the third Hungarian Film Festival organised by Covent Garden’s Hungarian Cultural Centre this week.

Tamas Almasi, director of Puskas Hungary told Diary: “Puskás was far ahead of his time.

Wandering around the world he discovered and accepted other people’s habits and culture, learnt their languages, lived their life, but remained a proud Hungarian all along.

“He connected different people, he became the most famous Hungarian, and overseas, his name still means Hungary.”

Were he still alive, we’re sure another Hungarian icon, Harry Houdini might have something to say about that, but there can’t be too much argument.

Given the bloated egos of today’s crop of lobotomised players, a trip to see Puskás is likely to cause an outbreak of nostalgia for this more noble sporting life (although even the recent defeat to Germany doesn’t come close to what is still England’s heaviest loss, a 7-1 rout in 1954 thanks to the golden boot of Puskás and his Hungary team-mates).

Other films at the festival tell the story of Hungarians on the move.

Poverty, war, terror, persecution, anti-semitism and dictatorship the main reasons for a steady wave of emigration over 150 years, that has left its cultural footprint across the world map.

For more details visit www.hungary.org.uk

No scandal dogs JoAnne

London’s insomniacs will be familiar with JoAnne Good’s husky voice.

She presents BBC London’s late-night show, and has an ever-growing cult audience for her frank confessions, off-the-wall features and anything-goes rambles.

Diary is a recent convert to the show, and was interested to discover she lives in the Devonshire Street flat that was once home to Mandy Rice-Davies, she of the Profumo affair infamy.

To date Good’s career has been scandal-free, although her dog-lovers’ slot, Barking at the Moon, has raised more than a few eyebrows in the broadcasting world as well as being a bone of contention (sorry ed) in her Marylebone neighbourhood.

Can pets and radio ever work?

Adam and Joe’s lovable and smelly BBC dog Boggins is now in doggy heaven, but we’re told the number of waggy-tailed listeners is on the rise thanks to Jo.

So the message is keep the frequency clear in the kennels.

The late show is aired on weeknights from 10pm.

Greatest hits Vinnette’s Jacko tribute

Maida Hill Market moonwalked to Michael Jackson’s greatest hits at the weekend to mark the first anniversary of his death.

Local girl Vinnette Cowan ran through a medley of MJ favourites, to show that while “he’s out of my life”, he certainly hasn’t been forgotten on the streets of W9.

Youngsters were given the chance to sing along and show off their favourite moves on Saturday afternoon, stopping traffic all the way along the Harrow Road.

Ms Cowan, who has recently been performing in Starlight Express said: “I want us to remember the great man, his talent and his legacy with this celebration.”

The celebration was organised by the Harrow Road Partnership.

Cathedral centenary kicks off

Victoria Street is unlikely to feature on the CV of the town planner responsible for it.

Glass malls, infinite junctions, high-street chains occupying a collection of units that don’t quite meet the high-street grade.

It’s a triumph of function over design.

Yet Victoria Street possesses one jewel that was spared the wrecking ball (and the Luftwaffe’s bombs), Westminster Cathedral.

This week the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales kicks off its centenary celebrations with a one-off exhibition of treasures in its upper gallery.

Although it was built in 1903, under church law, no building could be consecrated unless free from debt, so the consecration ceremony didn’t take place until June 28 1910.

Artefacts on display from this week include vestments, chalices and communion plates.

The exhibition will also tell the story of how the cathedral was created and feature the original architect’s model.

The collection spans centuries, including fragments of silk from the tomb of St Edward the Confessor, a 13th-century ceremonial cross and chalice from a time when to celebrate Mass in England was treasonous.

Treasures of the Cathedral – tickets £5 concessions available.