Kontroll

Even if you have never actually ridden on one of those amazing steep, deep, and dangerously fast Budapest Metro escalators that swoop you down from street level deep into their subway system, I urge you to take a virtual journey into an imaginative and quirky cinematic world every bit as fantastic as Alice's adventures "underground."This film is a funny and funky thriller but certainly has very little to do with the real Metro system in Hungary's capital city.Yes, in Budapest they really do have control agents who ride along incognito and then suddenly whip out their official armbands and start checking for passengers onboard without valid tickets -- but just like the earlier American film "Repo Man" (a similarly despised way to make a living) this film is hardly a slice of "real" life or meant to be!In fact, one of the funniest bits in the film -- and the first thing you see -- is a poker-face statement read by what we're told is a representative of the Hungarian Metro system reminding us that what we're about to see is more a parable of good and evil than a depiction of actual events or conditions in the Hungarian Metro system.The humor is dark, but anyone who really and truly hates their current job (or suffers from bouts of depression in general) will probably identify with the controllers in this film -- especially if the hated job involves interactions with the public at large!Like a number of other Hungarian films I've been watching recently, the characters are both wildly eccentric but quite charming innocents at heart (in a perverse sort of way, or course).Yes, there is depictions of "sex and violence" in this film, but not anything as graphic as what's on American TV every evening, and these scenes are handled with a discrete finesse that is quite impressive. For example, there are some tarty underground prostitutes in the film, but a girl who rides the subway in a bulky pink Teddy Bear costume (think Barnie, not a Playboy bunny) is hero's love interest and sexier than anything in a skimpy skirt!If you enjoy foreign films in general, try this one for sure. As for me, I'm rapidly becoming hooked on Hungarian films -- and (despite my pen name) I'm not even Hungarian!

"Kontroll" is the first Hungarian film on the Cannes Film Festival in 20 years, it is also one of the few Hungarian films I have seen. What makes the second statement so odd is the fact that I am Hungarian. Now of course I realize just because I'm Hungarian that doesn't mean I have to like Hungarian films just as someone who is Italian doesn't have to like Italian films or someone who is German doesn't have to like German films or someone who is French...well you get the picture. But the difference with me is I like international films just that we rarely get to see Hungarian films nowadays. "Kontroll" is filmed entirely inside the Hungarian subway system, the largest in the world and one of the oldest. The movie follows a group of "ticket inspectors" headed by Bulcsu (Sandor Csanyi, and if my Hungarian is correct, which I doubt, Sandor is Alex in Hungarian). We meet these inspectors and see the whole new world unravel before our eyes. The director, Nimrod Antal, makes the subway the real star of the film. We enter a world that Kafka or Camu should have written about. Around every corner we are suspious because there seems to be a killer running around who pushes people onto the train tracks right before it arrives. So far 7 people have been killed in a month. But who could it be? And why are they doing it? To be honest "Kontroll" doesn't focus so much on that plot line. The movie almost seems plot-less. What Antal seemed most interested in is showing us the subway and capturing some truly impressive visual shots. The visuals will probably stay in your head a lot longer than the actually story, which to be honest is kind of weak. Though it didn't have to be if the movie would have focus more on the thriller aspect of the plot. Nimrod Antal claims this, his first film, was inspired by Tarkovsky's "Solaris", and like the Tarkovsky film one wonders if what we are seeing in "Kontroll" is real or a dream. How much of this movie is reality? There are not many clues given about who the killer is but the movie starts to lead us on the trail of Bulcsu. Does he have a split-personality? Or is he dreaming it? "Kontroll" is a film that is rich in atmosphere and detail. I think a good number of those who see this movie will enjoy it for those reasons alone even though the story leaves something to be desired. Antal shows great promise as a filmaker, has he has a good eye for visuals. I can't wait to see what else is in store for us in the future. Bottom-line: A film rich in atmosphere and detail takes us to an underground world, literally and captures our interest. Not one of the year's best but one you should seek out nonetheless.

As an American, I still remember the year I spent in Budapest two decades ago, and these ticket controllers always seemed a bit challenged beyond their means. The portrayal of their antics is hilarious in this film, and the plot is really quite engaging, considering the limitations of the underground as setting; although, it feels a bit naive in terms of making the story work. Overall, it's quite enjoyable.

This film has hillarious characters but I would not classify it as a comedy. This piece kind of exists on its own plane. It has an "in your face" feel of the characters (reminicent of "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels") but they are in some fantasy underground subway world.Kontroll follows a group of ticket collectors who seems to spend no time above ground. Especially the main character, who sleeps in the terminal and doesn't look to have seen sunlight in too long a time. The whole theme of being underground is very metaphorical. Many characters are symbolic in ways too.It is quite a dreampiece, but not too fantastic. We go odd places and meet the denizens of the underground. Some people are kind, others you wouldn't want to be alone with. Especially one mysterious character who stalks the underground and shoves people down to the tracks and to their deaths.Kontroll has an interesting pace to it. It's fast, but not too fast. It moves like a subway would. Quickly, then a short stop, then moving on again.I really felt a warmth towards this film. It is oddly touching at times, hillarious at others. All the characters are well thought out and well acted. It is well balanced, complete and left me feeling positive.

In some ways, this film inevitably reminds me of Luc Besson's Subway, having the bare bones of a story to portray an odd collection of people spending their time in the underground. There are obvious differences, such as the coolnes and chic that accompanied Luc Besson's characters, and the focus on a bunch of people who were not really supposed to be here. The central characters here are very different, being a bunch of misfits with nothing to say they have any real life outside of their grim jobs. Also, these are the officials who are supposed to be there.The story is not really developed that much, and there is no explanation as to who the hooded death-like figure is, nor what the young lady in a bear costume is doing there, other than the fact that her father is one of the drivers. But none of this really seems to matter, as you quickly get drawn into this stange world. Like Besson's Subway, you could probably say this film is all style and no real content, but that does not make it any less enjoyable.

Kontroll is a fabulous Hungarian thriller that is both stylish and quick paced with a soundtrack to match. The plot centres around ticket inspector Bulscú (Sándor Csányi) and his fellow odd ball colleagues who unenthusiastically patrol the underground train line beneath Budapest.Bulscú is an apathetic man hiding from the world above who begins to question his life as he's confronted by the threat of a serial killer stalking the platforms and discovers a beautiful female passenger who travels the line in a pink bear suit.The underground is a dark atmospheric setting for a thriller with its pools of light and sense of urgency as people rush in and out of the station and it's like glimpsing another world. Likewise the plot rolls along as though its running out of time and as Bulscú represents the `everyman' his story is engaging enough to keep you gripped and on his side. Kontroll is a gem of European cinema with quirky characters and plenty of dark comedy to keep you invested. This is a film I will watch again and again.

superb original, quirky, low budget film from Hungary. Set in Budapest metro, some odd characters, well paced plot. The sub titles seem to add to the film. If you like your fims dark and almost mono chromatic under the harsh electric lighting of the metro, then you will enjoy this. Nice opening sequence of progressive strip lights striiking up along the platform as the day starts.

The four stars rating is for the film, not this blu ray version. I love the film, bit of a lost gem. Had it on DVD for ages and have been watching out for it on blu ray. Imagine my disappointment when I found out English Subtitles were not available.

NO ENGLISH SUBTITLES!!!