Vagabond

Just saw this at the Seattle Film Festival. Young man Karesz is adrift in modern day Budapest, kicked out of his home by his parents for being incorrigible. One night he wanders into the local leisure centre were he observes many people his own age doing traditional Hungarian folk dances. Intrigued by what he sees, and also noting a comely young lady named Zsofi, he becomes involved in the music and dance community. The movie shows us many scenes of Karesz trying his hand at honest work while practicing his dance steps, a performance group preparing for an upcoming presentation and especially the many inter-relations amongst the individuals that make up this unique dance world. Their honesty and energy at keeping alive an artform that could so easily be wiped out by a modern society is certainly the heart of this charmer.