Bacsó earned international acclaim for his 1969 satirical anti-Communist film The Witness, which was banned for a decade. His most recent credit was as director and screenwriter for the 2008 film Virtually a Virgin. His extensive career began in 1947 and spanned six decades.

Born in Kosice, Slovakia, Bacsó studied film in Budapest, where he made his career. He received a lifetime achievement award at the Hungarian Film Week in February.