Hungary
Hungarian, clear English subtitles
ICA Films
R2 DVD
Reviewer:
Bob Estreich
Director
Kornel Mandruczo has given us a stunningly beautiful but disquieting film set
in the delta of the Danube River. It is a quiet area largely disconnected from
the rest of the world where most travel is by boat and the people are old
fashioned and insular and suspicious of outsiders. Matyas Erdely’s
cinematography captures the feeling well with long shots across the delta and
occasional closer shots of the people of the delta that make them look
insignificant by comparison. Even during the procession of boats to a funeral,
he cannot resist pulling the lens back for a broad shot to show how minor the
people are in the landscape.
Mihail
has returned to the delta after having left as a young boy. His background is
unclear but he has come back intending to settle on the land owned by his
father until his death. His mother has remarried to a bullying, loutish man and
Mihail is surprised to find he has a half-sister, Fauna. She is a quiet,
fragile downtrodden girl but decides she will leave her mother and stepfather
and move into an old hut with Mihail. He intends to use the money he has saved
to build a new house out over the water and she will help him do this. The
coarse, suspicious villagers are scandalised and imagine the worst about the
couple, although their relationship is simply that of brother and sister
discovering each other’s existence.
On
one of her trips to town she packs her bag to move her possessions in with
Mihail, but is intercepted by her stepfather. He rapes her and she is now
firmly committed to Mihail who nurses her through her trauma. The inevitable
happens and they become lovers.
The
new house is largely finished. Mihail has had a large catch of fish and
arranges a housewarming party for the villagers. The party turns violent and the
consequences are tragic, reflecting the villagers’ abhorrence of incest and
perhaps their underlying brutality in their harsh environment. Their social
norms have been violated and it will end in tears and vengeance.
The
development of the film is a little strange. Although we can see why Fauna
would want to leave her family we find out little about Mihail. His past
remains largely a blank and his emotions are submerged by his drive to complete
his home. The humans are minor players against the beautiful natural backdrop
of the delta’s waterways, and this effect is strengthened in the final shot.
The
film moves slowly like life in the delta and the most active moments are during
the building of the roof of the house – even the housewarming party seems devoid
of any excitement. This slow development will not appeal to everyone but I
liked the way it seemed to reflect the natural pace of the delta.
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