DIRECTOR: Zoltán Fábri (Twenty Hours)
STARS: Endre Bohem, Sándor Pécsi, Lászlo Kozák
SYNOPSIS: Surprisingly engaging and serious children’s film about two groups of kids in a small village in late 1880’s Budapest who go to war over a playground lot. Our heroes are a gang of teenage boys who control a vacant lot called “The Grund”. An opposing gang wants to take over the Grund for their own. “Rules of Engagement” are agreed upon and this sets the stage for a clash between the two groups. The rules include throwing dirt bombs and fighting with staffs and other non-lethal methods. If you are hit you must play dead. Having said all that the filmmakers and actors treat the plot with utter seriousness. It’s not just a game to them. Even the few adults we see in the film accept it. Virtues like honor, respect, loyalty, and fair play are essential. Early in the film there’s a scene where three boys from the opposing gang visit a sick boy and apologize for being overly rough with him. It’s a rare film that takes the ideas, feelings, and actions of young kids in a serious manner. Hopefully that doesn’t sound too boring as the film is well produced on all levels: acting, camerawork, directing, etc. In Hungarian language with English subtitles. WIDESCREEN
Widescreen / Color
Region Free / Code Free DVD-R
DIRECTOR: Zoltán Fábri (Twenty Hours)
STARS: Endre Bohem, Sándor Pécsi, Lászlo Kozák
SYNOPSIS: Surprisingly engaging and serious children’s film about two groups of kids in a small village in late 1880’s Budapest who go to war over a playground lot. Our heroes are a gang of teenage boys who control a vacant lot called “The Grund”. An opposing gang wants to take over the Grund for their own. “Rules of Engagement” are agreed upon and this sets the stage for a clash between the two groups. The rules include throwing dirt bombs and fighting with staffs and other non-lethal methods. If you are hit you must play dead. Having said all that the filmmakers and actors treat the plot with utter seriousness. It’s not just a game to them. Even the few adults we see in the film accept it. Virtues like honor, respect, loyalty, and fair play are essential. Early in the film there’s a scene where three boys from the opposing gang visit a sick boy and apologize for being overly rough with him. It’s a rare film that takes the ideas, feelings, and actions of young kids in a serious manner. Hopefully that doesn’t sound too boring as the film is well produced on all levels: acting, camerawork, directing, etc. In Hungarian language with English subtitles. WIDESCREEN
Widescreen / Color
Region Free / Code Free DVD-R
