Mindenki

This movie of Deák Kristóf seems to be a simple, cute story what is lacking all of valid content, and I though that too before I watched this movie. But it is not a simple, cute story what is lacking all of valid content, it is just cute and simple. Regardless it's cuteness it has got a critics of most of education system on the world, because most of them doom that - excluding the most extremist cases - every children has got a potential to learn anything they want. And this movie answers that if it is true or not, and that how it effect to the hierarchy between the children, the self-esteem of them and how it effects to the power of the teacher.

That was the movie what gives back my trust towards the Hungarian movies

Sorry for my bad English

First the positive: kudos for the actors.

Now the bad: everything else. We should believe none, not any of the juries, any of the parents, neither the members of the choir noticed any problem. Neither why the teacher don't even try to close the gaps. The connections between the characters are entirely artificial. And we should believe the kids, who segregated themselves so much they have an absolutely strict order where to sit when (even during recess), and despite there is free space they ostracize a student by refusing to sit there - these kids supposedly can cooperate to any noble purpose.

If we'd go into details the problems would just accumulate. I suggest leave this thing alone.

And I am a hungarian. Well, not according to the Prime Law - which never had the proper authorization -, which strips everyone not Christian their citizenship, so I assume my opinion doesn't matter there.

When young "Zsofi" (Karádi Borbála) arrives at her new school, her one wish is to join it's choir. She befriends it's star singer "Liza" (Hais Dorottya) and goes to a rehearsal. It's after this that she is told by the teacher "Miss Erika" (Szamosi Zsófia) that in future it's best that she just mime along to the songs - she's not yet good enough to actually sing! Disconsolate, her friend soon realise that there is something amiss and after a few days of persistence finally finds out. At the next practise session the young "Liza" notices a little more than she is supposed to and with the competition looming, the choir decide it's time to make their presence felt. The acting from the girls and their teacher is engaging, and I did like the ending - it works really quite well in this charming and enjoyable story of teamwork with just a tiny hint of revenge!

Mindenki transports us to a strict girl's school in Hungary, where our newcomer protagonist tries out for the renowned choir. Only there's a catch, and the reason she ends up making the list turns out to be a bit disturbing. To say more would be to spoil the story.

Like all art-forms, cinema has its fair share of "golden rules" aimed at steering filmmakers clear of potentially catastrophic mistakes: don't shoot at sea, don't use animals, don't use children... The secret being that if you can transcend the challenges each rule poses, you can make a film that is pure magic. Director Kristof Deak's cast is almost exclusively comprised of 10-11 year-old girls, and he plays them like an elite orchestra. Because the performances are so pure and natural, the storytelling so liquid, this comes across as effortless filmmaking, when in fact it pulls off some of the craft's most daunting challenges.

It will be very interesting to see what Deak and co do next, especially after whatever happens on Oscar Night where, if there is any justice, this little gem will walk away with a little golden statue.

In this list I usually review feature length movies, that is films with a duration of at least one hour. Exceptions to this rule are relatively rare. Examples are "The bespoke overcoat" (1955, Jack Clayton) and "Vincent" (1982, Tim Burton).

The Hungarian short "Sing" is another exception. Apart from being short (25 minutes) it is also meant as a children's movie. This is however not to be taken very literally. I saw the film from 22:15 - 22:40 PM, not children's prime time.

The film is about a girl that has recently moved to a new elementary school . She is somewhat uncertain and to make friends she joints the school choir.

I will not further elaborate on the plot. Let is suffice that the plot contains some ethical choices (to be honest versus to be successful) and some life experiences (best intentions causing serious (psychological) injuries. Both are viewed from the perspective of both children and adults.

In 2017 the film rightly won an Oscar in the category Best Live Action Short film.