27/06/07 : Kontrol

I don’t think I have ever seen a Hungarian film before. I certainly could not have named you a Hungarian director.

Now I have ……. and now I can - the film was Kontrol and the director Nimrod Antal.

If this is a yard stick for Hungarian cinema then I shall definitely be watching more!

It’s a fictitious tale set on the Budapest subway system and the film actually starts with a disclaimer from the real-life subway chief assuring the viewers that the staff employed there are nothing like the agoraphobic, adrenaline addicted mavericks depicted in the film.

It’s a dark tale revolving around a gang of undercover ticket inspectors and a spate of mysterious killings or people jumping in front of trains.

There were moments where I was reminded of Escape from New York as you get the impression that this is set at some point in the future - but the not too far distant.

As someone who loves the whole look and feel of underground systems I found this film easy and enjoyable viewing. I'm not going to say its 'amazing', but as a first film by a new director it certainly not disappointing and the stuff that’s good certainly out ways the few weak moments.

Coincidently the film shares its name with a night club in Doncaster, a town where shops and bars are particularly keen on using the letter K to replace the letter C in a generally KRAZY way. The difference here is that the film is Hungarian and so they actually spell KONTROL in this way. I just felt it was important to make that distinction.

Captain Haddock