Fehér tenyér

White Palms, (Fehér Tenyér) Hungary, 2006. Viewed in Budapest at the annual Magyar Film Week, (Magyar Film Szemle) February, 2006.

Having suffered as a boy under a brutal Communist-era coach, champion Hungarian gymnast Miklos moves to Canada years later in search of a new start - only to find himself unwittingly perpetuating the very same cycle of abuse among his own pupils.

"White Palms" helmed by Szabolc HAJDU is possibly the only feature film ever made whose central subject is the specialized athletic domain of Gymnastics. It follows the life of a talented young gymnast in the city of Debrecen who rebels against his sadistic coach in Communist Hungary, runs off to a Russian circus where he suffers a very bad injury, emigrates to Canada where he himself becomes a leading gymnastics coach, then, years later, returns to Debrecen for one last shot as a performer in international competition, whereupon, having proved his mettle once and for all against his arch Canadian rival– goes back and joins a famous Canadian circus! — (Le Cirque du Soleil).

The gymnastics scenes, which take up a goodly portion of the total screen time, are especially realistic as both the director and his brother Zoltan Miklos Hajdu, who plays the hero, Dongo, at maturity, are highly trained gymnasts! Nothing like making a picture about an occupation you know something about… The title refers to the chalk gymnasts dust their palms with when approaching the high bar to get a better grip. The gyrations on the bars are breathtaking but what really gives this film its unusual punch is the parallel study of the art and mentality of the career gymnast woven into a strong critique of the Communust system that paralyzed Hungary for four decades. Fascinating film, one of a kind. The festival closer "Taxidermia" a study in the gymnastics of regurgitation made enough people in Hungary puke this year to convince the critics that it was the "Best Film of the Year" – different shucks for different folks. All things considered, however, 2006 was not a bad year at all for the steadily reviving Hungarian cinema and White Palms is one if the best of the new breed.

I was very impressed by this movie. The story itself as well as the atmosphere, pictures, music... As a former sportsman I recognize the gym environment with all that old equipment from 80's and the modern one in Canada as very real and realistic. After the film I read that two main actors were athletes. Knowing this before, I would expect their acting performance week, but they were great, even the small boys. I was impressed, because the theme is my personal, but from the movie-making-point of view I admired especially the cut and lights in the circus/competition scene. Thanks to the sportsmen in leading roles, I did not have to watch usual cutting when the actor starts to run - cut - stunt makes a trick, so all the scenes from the gym looked very natural. For me very balanced work in all possible aspects.

However I am afraid that the movie can better address sport or gymnastics people. I spoke with normal spectators after the film, and those stayed untouched.

What I quite liked in the movie was the way the early 1980's scenes and feeling was depicted. It gives a superb re-view of the late communist way of thinking. On values and performance in a sporty way.

One of the best scenes for me is the one when the grown up Dongo (the main character) gives a strike to a young Canadian athlete he is instructing. The Canadian parents reaction makes a strong counter point with the really socialist, inhuman reactions of the parents - his parents included - back in his childhood. Counter points are also intensified by the cool editing and the Black and whitish (young Dongo time) and todays scenes.

The only thing I would have left out or would alter is the visiting Russian circus story of the teenage Dongo. It feels a little cliché to me!

Go and see for yourself though! A cool movie for Central Europe and sports addicts.

The white palm is a catching movie about an athlete trying to face his talent, the environment and the faults he commits. You do not have to be a sport- lover to like this movie, it is about more: about life. The only way to face your faults is to jump for the next challenge and try it again. The main figure is a Hungarian sporter, who from his childhood trains to become an athlete. We can see the way how he formed to the personality he is: the cruel trainings from childhood, the family-background, and the whole environment, a socialistic world. The story goes in different time-zones: side by side we can follow the child Dongó and his challenges, as well as the young man Dongó in Canada, training the new generation and than trying again his luck. The beginning of the movie is a bit slow, but it gets faster and it just catches you already in the middle of the movie and does not let you relax until the end. This is also interesting, as is based on a true story, the athlete plays himself in the movie. I really liked it, so I suggest you to watch it. :)

This is an absolute gem, an unique document about the sport training for contests in Eastern countries, formerly bloodlineed with communism. It is tough, rough, gritty, hard to watch, sometimes, not destined to sissies but so realistic. I love movies speaking of sport, high scale, level sport, the things about which no one never talks about. It is poignant, nasty, gripping, disturbing, far, far from Hollywood fairy tales craps. BLACK SWAN in gymnastics if you prefer. It is an awesome film, believe me, I guess there were not so many of this kind, of this quality. Do not miss it, at any cost. A pure jewel.