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Kontroll (2003)

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2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Anyone for a movie shot entirely in the bowels of Budapest’s underground train system? Don’t be put off by the premise: this is a witty, original and stylish debut. Antal’s film opens with a man reading us a notice saying that nothing here represents existing people or places. But it’s the details of Budapest’s metro stations that Antal indulges in, turning them into a neat theatre for his story of an alienated, melancholic ticket inspector, Bulcsú (Csányi), and his ragged band of colleagues. The pillars, platforms, trains and corridors all fuel thoughtful camerawork that is defined by harsh neon lights. Down in the depths, there’s a madman on the loose, inclined to lurk on platforms and push people under trains. But it’s the everyday life of the station’s staff and travellers that proves more interesting than this hooded figure. Essentially a series of vignettes, Bulcsú’s story emerges out of the chaos. It’s only when he meets an enigmatic girl dressed in a mouse costume that he is able to put this subterranean world behind him.

Author: DC

Time Out London Issue 1778: September 15-22, 2004

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User reviews of this film

Technoguy said...

Posted on Feb 28 2008 20:50 An amusing enough and quirky film for a 1st feature. Literally choosing the Hungarian Underground for an underground subject.Made like a cult movie : a bunch of raggle-taggle ticket collectors going about their everyday work. This plays upon the public's dislike of Controllers or Officials who are needed to regulate the system. At times the lighting is so dark(you never see the light of day) you feel you are swimming around in pea soup.They play all sorts of games to keep their morale boosted due to all the negative responses they get. I didn't feel I'd want to watch this again.

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Leona Luk said...

Posted on Aug 19 2007 18:59 The short review for this would be "perfect". A longer review would include words like witty, amusing, well paced, endearing, and wow.
I laughed, I cried...well, I didn't really cry however I did hold my breath a few times in anticipation of what would come next.
This is definitely one to see.

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