Szezon

This is Ferenc Török's second major film; Moszkva Tér, a Hungarian cult classic, was the first. Török is a very wry filmmaker. I watched the deleted scenes section of the DVD -- it comes with commentary, a feature I have never seen for deleted scenes before. In this section, he talks about how he took out all the "Hungarian road film" aspects, all the romantic scenes, all the buddies-clowning-around improv his actors added. He wanted this to be a dark film, and he has succeeded, but it is also, as he intended, a film about heroes, about the ordinary guy as a hero in a hierarchical world. As such, it is an excellent portrayal of modern-day Hungary, and many other places as well. This is also a very beautiful film -- the photography is stunning. The plot is minimal, so don't look for much action. But there is lots of fine acting, and some outstanding studies of characters alienated from the modern world.

"Szezon" shows the worst false stereotypes for me about the countryside people - from the point of view of a downtown snobbish (however talented) filmmaker. I think his imagination about the outside world of Budapest city (where the director's previous film, titled "Moszkva tér" is settled) is not quite accurate. After the brilliant Moszkva tér" (that was meant for a special tight target audience which understand the special punch line perfectly) "Szezon" is just a disaster to my mind. Truly, there's no action, in fact the characters are acting on a nonsense way like rarely in the Hungarian reality. This is my impression. However the cinematography is not bad, but not enough for keeping you in front of the screen!

The film is not about the countryside, not about the Hungarian way of living, not even about the decade it was made in, but much more. It's a beautiful movie about choices and learning to accept what we are meant to do in life. Yes, we can dream about something more, but eventually we must learn to cope with our (small or big) failures, and then join the life set out for us. The one that wishes for an average life is laughed at, but the one that realizes what to do to achieve it is the hero of this movie. He's choosing Eastern Sugar, the most obvious choice but he has to go far before he can see it. The final scene with the binoculars is outstanding.