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Hungarian filmmaker István Gaál was one of the key directors in Hungarian New Wave cinema. Originally Gaál studied to be an eclectrotechnician like his father, but then his growing interest in cinema led Gaál to study directing at Budapest's Academy of Dramatic and Cinematographic Arts. He graduated in 1959, and, after receiving an Italian State scholarship for his film Palyamunkasok/Surfacemen, Gaál studied at the Centro Sperimentale, Rome. He continued making short films while in Rome under the supervision of different directors. Gaál made his feature-film debut in 1964 with the critically acclaimed Sodrásban/Current.. Gaál died at age 74 in September 2007, about two years after his last credit.