User reviews

In Hungary, an estimated 10% of the population has some degree of alcoholism, yet the subject is somewhat taboo. Nothing demonstrates this better than the fact that this movie claims to be the first to deal with the topic... but it would still be highly recommended to watch, even if that weren't the case.

First of all, we see some world-class acting, notably from the main character, Sanyi (Szabolcs Thúróczy). His transformation from a happy drunkard to a life-threatening monster is one of the strongest performances I've seen lately. I was totally surprised when I learned that Sanyi's repairman friend wasn't even an actor-his character was incredibly believable. Also, Hungarian viewers will surely enjoy the brief appearance of stars like György Cserhalmi.

Secondly, the characters are well-written. Even though alcoholism might seem like a "simple affair," Sanyi's dependence is explained from multiple angles.

Finally, the movie authentically presents the current mood of Hungary and Budapest, with places like that shabby CBA on the corner or the iconic Széll Kálmán tér.

Sometimes, the urge to cover "everything" about alcoholism makes the story feel a bit forced, but for the most part, it's a movie that immerses the viewer and hopefully makes them see the subject in a different light.

And yes, on top of all that, it's an important one as well. Even if you only walk away understanding that you shouldn't get offended the next time someone refuses to drink with you, that would be a big achievement.

It's quite surprising that no one has reviewed this masterpiece before me. It presents alcoholism in such a raw, unfiltered way, yet still from a deeply human perspective, with such authenticity that it's hardly surprising the director and some of the actors have personally experienced this demonic spectacle called alcoholism.

The actors in the main roles are brilliant, and the film's overall atmosphere and dynamism are captivating-at times even inducing second-hand embarrassment. It's not an easy watch; taking a pause here and there to process everything might not be a bad idea. The scene in the kitchen, where all hell breaks loose at home, is simply staggering.

What makes it truly beautiful is that, alongside all the suffering and struggle, the possibility of a second chance is also present-though one that must be fought for every single day. A stunning film. For me, it's a solid 9/10, but I rated it a 10 just to help pull it up from 7.2. An absolute must-watch.

Unfortunately, in Hungary, people don't watch Hungarian films because of these kinds of films. I understand that it's low-budget and financed by friends, but why is it so heavy, tasteless and useless? This is a very important topic, but in this film everything is about cliché situations and cliché dialogues.

I honestly wanted to enjoy the film, I expected it to be captivating, but scene by scene you could guess what was coming next. It presents recovering addicts as if they had taken the ideas from an addiction textbook.

Please don't draw conclusions from this about what Hungarian films are like.