Kontroll (2003)

I like being in all kind of train stations... there are so many different kinds of people and you can just sit and watch them pass and wonder what kind of story they have already lived through... it is almost like you are in a whole own world. Well, to be honest, Kontroll frightened me a bit because I suppose the next times I am in an underground station I will be much more aware of my environment and even be scared to be thrown on the tracks... However, I enjoyed the movie. It is a bit unusual, but this is what makes it so special and you somehow get involved in it with the time. It really catches your attention right from the start. I didn't expect the film to be like that but the whole thing is created in a very intelligent way, really. The main character Bulcsu is a much more complex person than I would have thought by the first look and I liked the idea of getting a job in an underground station to hide from the world, its problems and mostly from yourself. Although I didn't really get that ending bit, I liked it and it was an experience to watch a Hungarian film that I would not want to have missed. Although the film can be quite tough or even weird at some points, it is worth watching! It is interesting as it is not as superficial as you may expect... it made me think if it is really this hierarchy that was presented in the film... I think some things were a bit unrealistic, but it is made up really tricky and I liked the music as well. And once more it made me wish to be able to go to one of those East European countries, I suppose it would really be an adventure. Right now I cannot really imagine that life there is so much different, but I think the differences are massive and I would really like to go and see it. I'm sure I will one day... :) Kontroll really made me think (always a good feature of a film) and realise that despite of all this EU stuff etc., Europe is still very divided in terms of culture and attitudes, but in my opinion this is good- because thinking about other people's identities is always good as it brings you closer to your own one. As me being Non-British, it was very nice to have the subtitles there and I liked it in general that they didn't dub it all because this would have taken some of the film's charm and character away, as languages are such a fascinating thing. However, it is not that kind of film you can watch over and over again, but that's alright- sometimes you don't need to know everything and then it is better to fill in the holes with your own imagination! The film also shows the complexity of a human being and it displays that you cannot always guess directly what a person is like. Sometimes the traitors and cowards are the ones you had never expected to be, as you can't differentiate between love, friendship and hatred always so clearly and you sometimes lose control in the fight against yourself, if you want to do so or not. I had never seen a film like this before, but I am happy that I have now! Well, Kontroll won't become my favourite movie, but you should watch it definitely. It is full of action, mixed up with being a bit romantic, funny (can be really really black humour, but in the right dose), thoughtful and demanding, although sometimes it appeared a bit too abstract to me. Surely you will find something you like about Kontroll because overall it is really fabulous. PS: I have to add, now, that it all turned out to be so ironic in a very very sad way- while I was watching the movie, German football player Robert Enke committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a running train... I know it has nothing to do with me watching the film, of course not, as this would be stupid thinking, but life can be so brutal, can't it? It is all about dramatic irony and tragedy and I am so sad. I just wanted to express my condolences and my thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues in this hard times. RIP Robert, we'll miss you so much. I am so sorry. He has given us a task and we should all do the greatest efforts in resolving it properly. It just makes you realize once again that you can never appreciate your life enough!