Kontroll
Encyclopedia
Kontroll is a Hungarian
comedy
-thriller released to theatres in 2003
. Shown internationally, mainly in art house theatres, the film is a darkly comic thriller set in a Hungarian Metro system.
"Kontroll" in Hungarian refers to the act of ticket inspectors checking to ensure a rider has paid their fare
. The story revolves around the ticket inspectors, riders, and a possible killer.
The film was written and directed by Nimród Antal
and starred Sándor Csányi
, Zoltán Mucsi, and Csaba Pindroch. The film was entered in a number of film festivals in Europe and North America. It won the Gold Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival
and was screened in the Un Certain Regard
section at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
.
Actor Lajos Kovács, who plays a minor role in Kontroll, is internationally known for Radiohead
's "Karma Police
" music video.
Among the ticket inspectors on the same shift there is a conflict between Bulcsú's team and another team. Bulcsú is challenged to "rail running" by this other team's leader. "Rail running" is an event similar to the running of the bulls. Once the last passenger train leaves the station, the contenders must run through the tunnels and exit before the last 'express' train, which does not stop at any station. Bulcsú exits the tunnel first with his opponent close behind. Bulcsú pulls the opponent off the track just in time to prevent the train running over him.
While Bulcsú is on a ticket inspection, he meets a woman, Sofie (Eszter Balla), who is dressed as a bear and never buys a ticket for the metro. No direct explanation is ever given as to why she is dressed as a bear, however, it is implied that the costume is part of her job. Bulcsú falls in love with Sofie, and much later he discovers that she is the daughter of his good friend Béla (Lajos Kovács), a metro driver (the family of public transport workers don't need to buy tickets in Hungary). Béla is an alcoholic; he used to drive trains on the surface until he crashed a train due to "lack of braking distance".
Deaths start occurring in the Metro (including one which is the opening scene) with passengers and bystanders seemingly leaping into the path of the oncoming trains. At first the characters think the victims are suicidal jumpers. The audience, however, and later Bulcsú see that the deaths are caused by someone, or something, pushing each victim onto the tracks right before a train comes. The identity of the murderer is never known and is seen only as a quickly moving hooded figure. The figure is wearing the same kind of leather jacket and hoodie that Bulcsú is seen dressed in throughout the film; further obscuring the murderers identity.
When Bulcsú is chasing a troublesome passenger, nicknamed "Bootsie" (in Hungarian, the name of this character is "Roadrunner" as in the cartoon character), the murderer pushes Bootsie in front of a train. Bulcsú is suspected of the crime, which leads to him quitting his job. While brooding and in despair he is attacked by the murderer. He has to run for his life on the rails. In the end, the train apparently hits the murderer, and Bulcsú leaves the underground hand in hand with Sofie. Every staircase of the escalator is moving upwards.
Cinema of Hungary
Hungary has had a notable cinema industry from the beginning of the 20th century, with Hungarians who affected the world of motion picture both inside and outside the borders...
comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
-thriller released to theatres in 2003
2003 in film
The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...
. Shown internationally, mainly in art house theatres, the film is a darkly comic thriller set in a Hungarian Metro system.
"Kontroll" in Hungarian refers to the act of ticket inspectors checking to ensure a rider has paid their fare
Proof-of-payment
Proof-of-payment or POP is an honor-based fare collection approach used on many public transportation systems. Instead of checking each passenger as they enter a fare control zone, proof-of-payment requires that each passenger carry a ticket or pass proving that they have paid the fare. Ticket...
. The story revolves around the ticket inspectors, riders, and a possible killer.
The film was written and directed by Nimród Antal
Nimród Antal
Nimród E. Antal is a Hungarian American film director, screenwriter and actor.-Life and career:...
and starred Sándor Csányi
Sándor Csányi
Sándor Csányi is a Hungarian actor.Csányi aimed to be an actor from an early age and was admitted into the Hungarian University of Theater and Film on his fourth attempt...
, Zoltán Mucsi, and Csaba Pindroch. The film was entered in a number of film festivals in Europe and North America. It won the Gold Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
and was screened in the Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Selection. It is run at the Salle Debussy, parallel to the competition for the Palme d'Or.This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob...
section at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
2004 Cannes Film Festival
The 2004 Cannes Film Festival started on May 12 and ran until May 23. The Palme d'Or went to the American film Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore.-Jury:* Quentin Tarantino, President * Emmanuelle Béart * Edwidge Danticat * Tilda Swinton...
.
Actor Lajos Kovács, who plays a minor role in Kontroll, is internationally known for Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's "Karma Police
Karma Police
"Karma Police" is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead from their 1997 third studio album OK Computer. The song's title and lyrics derive from an in-joke among the band, referring to the Hindu theory of retributive enforcement, known as karma....
" music video.
Plot
The main character of the story is Bulcsú (Sándor Csányi), who is working in the Metro system, checking tickets. He is known to have a previous job but the movie doesn't expand on that. He eats and sleeps underground and never sees the sunlight. He is a member of a ticket inspector team (the others are played by Zoltán Mucsi, Csaba Pindroch and Sándor Badár). His team struggles to check riders' tickets because people revile and hate them to the point where ticket inspectors are assaulted daily. When not on duty late at night, Bulcsú explores the abandoned or under-construction sections of the subway tunnels.Among the ticket inspectors on the same shift there is a conflict between Bulcsú's team and another team. Bulcsú is challenged to "rail running" by this other team's leader. "Rail running" is an event similar to the running of the bulls. Once the last passenger train leaves the station, the contenders must run through the tunnels and exit before the last 'express' train, which does not stop at any station. Bulcsú exits the tunnel first with his opponent close behind. Bulcsú pulls the opponent off the track just in time to prevent the train running over him.
While Bulcsú is on a ticket inspection, he meets a woman, Sofie (Eszter Balla), who is dressed as a bear and never buys a ticket for the metro. No direct explanation is ever given as to why she is dressed as a bear, however, it is implied that the costume is part of her job. Bulcsú falls in love with Sofie, and much later he discovers that she is the daughter of his good friend Béla (Lajos Kovács), a metro driver (the family of public transport workers don't need to buy tickets in Hungary). Béla is an alcoholic; he used to drive trains on the surface until he crashed a train due to "lack of braking distance".
Deaths start occurring in the Metro (including one which is the opening scene) with passengers and bystanders seemingly leaping into the path of the oncoming trains. At first the characters think the victims are suicidal jumpers. The audience, however, and later Bulcsú see that the deaths are caused by someone, or something, pushing each victim onto the tracks right before a train comes. The identity of the murderer is never known and is seen only as a quickly moving hooded figure. The figure is wearing the same kind of leather jacket and hoodie that Bulcsú is seen dressed in throughout the film; further obscuring the murderers identity.
When Bulcsú is chasing a troublesome passenger, nicknamed "Bootsie" (in Hungarian, the name of this character is "Roadrunner" as in the cartoon character), the murderer pushes Bootsie in front of a train. Bulcsú is suspected of the crime, which leads to him quitting his job. While brooding and in despair he is attacked by the murderer. He has to run for his life on the rails. In the end, the train apparently hits the murderer, and Bulcsú leaves the underground hand in hand with Sofie. Every staircase of the escalator is moving upwards.
Cast
- Sándor CsányiSándor CsányiSándor Csányi is a Hungarian actor.Csányi aimed to be an actor from an early age and was admitted into the Hungarian University of Theater and Film on his fourth attempt...
as Bulcsú - Zoltán Mucsi as Professor
- Csaba Pindroch as Muki
- Sándor Badár as Lecsó
- Zsolt Nagy as Tibi
- Bence Mátyássy as Bootsie
- Győző Szabó as Shadow
- Eszter Balla as Zsofi
- Lajos Kovács as Béla
External links
- Official site
- Roger Ebert's review of Kontroll
- Kontroll at the Boston Film Festival
- Kontroll at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film FestivalMinneapolis-St. Paul International Film FestivalThe Minneapolis–St. Paul International Film Festival is a springtime film festival in the U.S. state of Minnesota that has been held since the early 1980s. Known as the largest film event in the Upper Midwest, the festival invites numerous films from all corners of the globe, and attracts a large...