214. Treasure City (Békeidõ); movie review

 

TREASURE CITY (BÉKEIDÕ)

Cert 18

92 mins

BBFC advice: Contains sexual assault, domestic abuse

Anyone who has witnessed a classic football match or seen a fantastic movie will know that an awful lot can happen in 90 minutes.

Nevertheless, I cannot recall a film whose story was focused on such a short time until I watched  Szabolcs Hajdu's Treasure City.

Here are a handful of intimate tales which have a connecting, albeit sometimes tenuous, thread.

It makes for intense rather than happy viewing as family, political and romantic relationships all explode on screen.

But there is also a dab of surrealism to several of the key scenes - including an argument in a florist's shop which gets out of hand, an unexpected encounter in a bar and a demonstration against perceived injustices under an undemocratic regime.

All the action takes places at night in an unnamed Hungarian city and the darkness adds to the bleak atmosphere.

And there is some high-quality acting from the likes of Lilla Sárosdi and Orsolya Török-Illyé backed by a searing soundtrack from Freakin’ Disco.

But, while it gives a glimpse of Hungarian culture, Treasure City has too many strands for my liking and no resolutions, so left me a tad dissatisfied.

Reasons to watch: A intimate glimpse into Hungarian life

Reasons to avoid: Jolts around

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Did you know? Under the leadership of Viktor Orban, Hungary has experienced democratic backsliding, shifting towards authoritarianism. Orbán's populism, social-national conservatism, soft Euroscepticism and advocacy of what he describes as an "illiberal state" have attracted significant European and international attention and criticism.

The final word. Szabolcs Hajdu: "The world is not at war, it’s a time of peace, but everything’s a battle – at work, at home, within families, struggles the whole time. I took the two biggest general topics grabbing people’s attention – the MeToo movement and the migrant crisis – and they provided the themes. In fact, the atmosphere around us is the basis, in conversations, from the TV." We Love Budapest

 

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