The Restless Hungarian

Occasionally a film comes along which covers a multitude of topics and yet weaves them into a coherent and compelling story. What starts as a reflection on a personal crisis quickly explodes into a layered exploration of the history of a century, seen through the eyes of fascinating people form three continents and many walks of life. While it stays firmly on the tracks of an engrossing family history, its many sidings visit such topics as war, avant-garde art, the holocaust, architecture, bohemian life, immigration, adventure and travel, mental health and identity. And while all of this sounds like too much to fit in one story, each of these gets its due attention through rounded and skillful direction, so that the film seems to end only too quickly, in spite of its feature length.

Here is a 20-tieth century story of one more brilliant world-famous Hungarian. However one can hardly find people who know his name in Hungary today. He was not accepted in his homeland. He had to leave Europe to save his mere life. He found an asylum and reached fame on the other side of the world. But the price he had to pay was high... I think this beautiful, honest and deeply moving film is worth seeing for all interested in history, culture, biographies and family stories. I find this an unconventional documentary full of dramatic and artistic elements. As a Hungarian I especially liked in it to see my country through the eyes of an American brave and devoted to explore.

This film beautifully explores a grown-up child's discovery of his parents' past, a discovery that explains his own traumatic childhood experience as well as those of his parents. Weidlinger keeps us in suspense throughout as he peels back each layer of the onion allowing us to experience his revelations as if they were our own. This film touches the heart and will undoubtedly become a classic. A visual feature includes the documentarian's travels throughout the world of his father -- Hungary, Paris, Ecuador, Cape Cod, and Manhattan -- and dramatic re-enactments of family scenes that bring the past into even sharper focus.

Tom Weidlinger's Restless Hungarian opens as a tale of Jewish struggle in the lead up to WWII, but quickly focuses on the adventurous life brought about by Paul's (the director's father) sheer force of will. Like the brewing war in the foreground, Paul's life unfolds before us in fits of psychological battle, tactical retreat, and strategic armistice.

The participation of the director as both biographical orator and emotionally entangled character within the story could have detracted for the precision of the telling. To the contrary, Tom's personal quest for understanding seamlessly intertwines with his father's story. In the end, both men will be judged well by the feats they achieved.

The documentary was, for me, a transformative experience. It is both personal and universal, touching key turning points in 20th century history as well as the hopes, fears and aspirations of the filmmakers family. There is also here a story of intergenerational healing - of reaching back into the suffering experienced by parents and grandparents and acknowledging those experiences in a way that they, themselves, could not articulate.

Do not watch this film is you are merely looking for entertainment. Do watch it if you are open to a profound experience. It is unlike any other film I have seen.