Along with "The Confrontation", "The Red and the White" would have premiered at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival, but the festival was canceled due to the events of May 1968 in France. Internationally this film was Jancsó's biggest success, and received critical acclaim in Western Europe and the United States. It won the Best Foreign Film award from the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. Along with "Red Psalm" (1971) it is featured in the book "1001 Films You Must See Before You Die".